$20 million to support WA’s regional aged care
Western Australia’s southern regions will benefit from the State Government’s $20.2 million ‘Royalties for Regions’ investment for residential and respite aged care and older persons’ housing.
The investment, announced last week, is part of the WA State Government ‘Growing our South’ initiative, a five year program to ensure WA's nine regions have similar access to social and economic development funds.
Acting Regional Development Minister Mia Davies says the investment would address shortfalls identified in the 'Ageing in the Bush' report conducted by the Regional Development Council of Western Australia.
The report outlines care models for regional Western Australia to create sustainable aged care services for people to age in their regional communities.
“The State's projections show the population of regional WA aged 70 and over will double in size to 100,000 between 2011 and 2026,” Ms Davies says.
“This rate of growth is expected to be significantly higher in our regions than the metropolitan area. Without adequate facilities and services, older people are forced to leave their communities to access the care they need, resulting in significant adverse personal, social and economic outcomes,” she adds.
The funds will be spent on projects in Narrogin, Harvey, Williams, Dumbleyung, Lake Grace, Wagin, West Arthur, Woodanilling, Kent, Merredin, Kojonup, Mount Barker and Dwellingup.
The Minister says the allocation would address the growth in ageing population in the State's southern regions and provide some relief to those services already under pressure.
“Investment in aged care infrastructure and services is fundamental to the ongoing viability and development of regional WA, and the State Government will continue to invest Royalties for Regions funds in key community projects that enable regions to grow,” she says.
Royalties for Regions Growing our South initiative is delivering $600 million over five years to implement projects that will provide more sustainable social and economic outcomes across the Peel, Wheatbelt, South-West and Great Southern regions
The 'Growing our South – Ageing in the Bush' projects include funding for a 14-bed dementia specific wing at Narrogin Cottage Homes in Karinya, delivering the only dementia specific designed facility in the Wheatbelt south area, and the construction 21 high-quality units for independent living at Collet Barker Court, Mount Barker.
