MORE RESPITE FUNDING FOR TWO LOCAL ORGANISATIONS
Stanhope Healthcare Services and Mercy Community Care in my electorate have been granted $201,436 and $332,696 respectively for respite funding.
“As we know respite care gives carers the break they need to carry out other responsibilities or tend to their own needs and will assist constituents who are carers of frail older residents in my electorate,” Mr Ruddock said.
Stanhope Healthcare Services has received an amount of $201,426 for four years (2007-2011) that will offer new in-home respite care including planned outings as well as emergency respite. Twenty hours of respite will be provided to 4 carers per week, and may include overnight and weekend respite.
Mercy Community Care’s has received an amount of $332,696 that will support existing services and will be provided for 12 carers per week to expand respite currently being received.
This initiative is one of several funded under the $1.7 billion Security the future of aged care for Australians announced in February 2007 in which the Australian Government committed an additional $26.5 million for an extra 100,000 days of community-based respite nationally over the next four years to the carers of frail older Australian with high care needs.
The 2007-08 grant application round, which was advertised in July this year, has now been finalised. As a result a total of 28 applicants from across Australia will be offered funding agreements to provide high care respite services for carers,” Philip Ruddock said.