More funding for aged care services

THE Federal Government is providing more than $3 million in additional annual grant funding to deliver new and expanded residential aged care services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in remote locations.

Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt AM said the latest round of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program (NATSIFACP) funding would benefit people in the Gulf of Carpentaria, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

“This targeted investment aims to help improve the lives of elders living in some of our most remote areas,” Minister Wyatt said.

“This includes three additional North Queensland residential aged care services to be funded from January 2018, at Doomadgee, Normanton and Mornington Island.

“As well, two existing services will receive extra support to deliver care to older people with complex needs, at Docker River, in the Northern Territory, and Fitzroy Crossing, in Western Australia.

“The expanded funding is dedicated to providing responsive, culturally comfortable care, to help ensure people can stay close to their homes and country.”

The new locations will increase the number of NATSIFACP services, mainly in rural and remote locations, to 35.

A total of $43.1 million is being provided to expand the NATSIFACP over five years, to meet the increased need for aged care services in remote communities.

In 2015, a new service was established in Central Australia at Mutitjulu, and another aged care service is being established in East Arnhem Land at Nhulunbuy.

Existing services have also been expanded with this funding.

“Aged care funded under the NATSIFACP delivers a mix of residential and home-based services.

“A key feature is the services’ capacity to be adapted to meet the changing care needs of their communities.”