Government respite care funding on offer
The supply of respite places is set to increase with the Australian Government encouraging non-government organisations (NGO’s) to apply for funding to build their capacity to deliver respite services.
The Minister for Community Services, Senator Nigel Scullion, said tenders were now open for the $126.9 million National Respite Development Fund for NGO’s to build or expand new and innovative respite services.
Different types of respite services may be funded, including in-home respite, out of home respite and short term residential programs such as group homes and supervised holiday options.
“Organisations are invited to apply for funding to establish additional respite services which will increase availability in metropolitan, rural and remote regions across Australia,” Senator Scullion said.
The Mental Health National Respite Development Fund is a component of the Mental Health Respite Program, an initiative that forms part of the Government’s $1.9 billion commitment to the Council of Australian Government National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006-2010.
Funding will also be drawn from the new Respite for Older Carers of Children with Disability initiative which is part of the Government’s recent $1.8 billion Disability Assistance Package.
Applications close on Friday 3 August 2007, and can be obtained from www.facsia.gov.au/mentalhealth
