New services for NSW, NT & WA

Services for older residents and people with a disability of Cooma (New South Wales) and surrounds have received a boost with the opening of a $1.57 million dementia day care.

The purpose built dementia day-care centre is the eighth centre to be opened as part of the joint Australian and New South Wales Government-funded Home and Community Care (HACC) program.

The centre includes new office space for HACC services and a Meals on Wheels distribution centre.

The Federal Government contributed $942,000 and the state government provided about $628,000 towards the construction of the centre.

The Cooma-Monaro Shire Council arranged cash and in kind contributions totalling $60,000.

Residents of Kyogle and surrounding towns on the north coast of NSW will have access to a community garden, a refurbished gym and new equipment, and local fitness instructors under new project funded by the Australian Government.

The Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health, Warren Snowdon, and Member for Page, Janelle Saffin, announced the North Coast Area Health Service in conjunction with Kyogle Memorial Health have been funded for $560,930.

“The funding is part of the Australian Government’s new $18 million Preventative Health Initiative, which supports community projects in rural and regional Australia to reduce the number of people suffering from chronic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease,” Mr Snowdon said.

Ms Saffin said the new Preventative Health Initiative allows health services and communities to develop local solutions to local health issues.

“In our case here in Kyogle, it is wonderful to see so many local groups getting together to devise such a creative approach to local health issues.

“The project, called Active Kyogle, is well named because it has grown out of community action and involves actively tackling health issues across the whole community.

“It’s about promoting healthy activities like establishing a community garden and setting up a local gym. And of course staying active can be the key to prevention health problems.”

Active Kyogle will also include a Healthy Lifestyle Challenge to increase healthy eating and activity, with a focus on people aged over 65.

“Active Kyogle will benefit people in the whole Kyogle Shire, which includes towns of Bonalbo, Old Bonalbo, Kyogle, Tabulam, Cawongla, Wiangaree, Grevillia, Malanganee, Urbenville, and Woodenbong,” Ms Saffin said.
 
In the Northern Territory, a new disability and ageing service provider has joined the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program in Katherine and Alice Springs.

Community Support Incorporated (CSI) is a not-for-profit organisation that provides home and community support services to people with a disability and the ageing.

The Department of Health and Families’ (DHF) acting director aged and disability, Nicole O’Reilly, is delighted to have CSI on board.

“CSI will be a great addition to the HACC Program in the Territory,” Ms O’Reilly said.

“Established in 1991, CSI is very experienced in services that respond to the individual and daily needs of people with a disability and the ageing. CSI encourages independence in the home and a positive place in the community.”

CSI is funded to provide the HACC Program in both Katherine and Alice Springs with services that enhance the independence and quality of life for people living in the community, thus preventing their inappropriate or premature admission to long-term residential care.

In Western Australia, a Perth rehabilitation facility for people with an acquired brain injury has received a $4.2million Lotterywest grant to help redevelop and fit out its ageing building.
 
The redevelopment of the Brightwater Care Group’s Oats Street Rehabilitation Facility will be purpose-built, increase available beds from 27 to 43 and help support more people in the community.
 
Premier Colin Barnett, said the program at Brightwater’s Oats Street Rehabilitation Facility had pioneered new ways of approaching rehabilitation in Australia.
 
“Oats Street Rehabilitation Facility has successfully rehabilitated 225 people who would otherwise have remained in high care health and medical services at great cost to them, their families, the health system and the community,” Mr Barnett said.
 
“Participants undertake a 12-18 month process concentrating on cognitive recovery, managing major behavioural issues and re-learning life skills so that participants can return to the community.”
 
The current facility is a former state government hospital which, with modest renovations, was converted and opened in 1991.
 
In addition to Lotterywest funding, $3.5million has been allocated from the Department of Health.
 
More than 22,000 Western Australians live with an acquired brain injury as a result of accident; stroke; alcohol or drug abuse; or infection and disease, with at least 600 new cases occurring each year.
 
Building of the facility is set to begin in June 2011 and completed in 2014.