More HACC funding for Qld
The Australian and Queensland Governments have announced an additional $2.4 million in funding to improve services for older Queenslanders, particularly those rural and regional services that assist people with dementia and their carers.
The Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, provided details of the funding announcement on her visit to Rockhampton while visiting the jointly funded Australian and Queensland Government Suncare Rockhampton Access Point.
The Suncare Rockhampton Access Point is one of 10 Access Points across the nation. They are designed to provide a one-stop-shop to link older people with the community services they need such as meals on wheels.
Suncare Rockhampton Access Point received more than $117,000 in joint funding this year through the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program.
It has recently expanded its service area to include Banana Shire, Central Highlands and Gladstone and in March 2009 it was expanded to Wide Bay in the Bundaberg region.
The $2.4 million funding boost is part of the HACC Program. This program would see Queensland receive more than $384.3 million in 2008-2009.
The funding comprises $248.4 million from the Australian Government and $135.9 million by the Queensland government.
The funding announcement comprises:
- More than $1.3 million for additional services for people with dementia and their carers, particularly in rural and remote communities; and
- Almost $1.1 million for seven new Multicultural Advisory Services in regional and metropolitan areas to help equip service providers on how to provide culturally sensitive and appropriate support.
Over the next four years (from 2008-09), the Australian Government will provide $7.4 billion to Queensland to support aged and community care.
