Vic HACC funding announced
The Australian Government Minister for Ageing, Senator Santo Santoro, and Victorian Aged Care Minister Gavin Jennings have announced a boost for some 500 Victorian HACC agencies.
The Commonwealth and State and Territory governments jointly fund the HACC program, which in Victoria totals $440 million in 2006-07.
The extra funding will provide 478,000 more hours of nursing, allied health, domestic assistance, personal care and delivered meals to vulnerable Victorians.
“This includes an extra 119,000 hours domestic assistance, 82,000 hours personal care and nearly as much again for assessment and allied health services such as physiotherapy.
About 220,000 Victorians receive HACC services through some 500 local councils, health services and non-government agencies.
The Victorian Government contributed $55.7 million above its requirements under the joint program to help ensure that HACC services were widely available. State priorities include $15.7 million more to expand basic HACC services, $700,000 more to enhance access for ethnic groups to mainstream services and $1 million more to boost services and access for Indigenous communities.
