Victoria’s 2021 map for aged care services
The future of aged care services in country Victoria – which could see nearly one in three country people being 60 years or older by 2021 – is the basis for a new $1.5 million research initiative to be carried out by the Victorian Government and La Trobe University.
The Community Services Minister, Gavin Jennings, said the ‘John Richards Research Initiative into Aged Care in Rural Communities’ will focus on what the aged care workforce in regional Victoria should look like in the future and map out what is required to deliver that workforce.
The research initiative was named in honour of John Richards, a former jackaroo, soldier, farmer, Victorian Newsagency Association executive and inaugural president of the Yarrawonga District Hospital board of management.
Mr Jennings said that “with demand for services increasing dramatically this research will help deliver the right mix of services in an effective and efficient manner into the future”.
“Mr Richards’ vision to support aged care in country Victoria has been backed by his very generous donation. With matching contributions from the Bracks Government and from La Trobe University, the funding for this initiative will total $1.5 million over five years,” he said.
Professor Hal Swerissen, Acting Dean of La Trobe’s Faculty of Health Sciences, said: “Demand for health and aged care services will increase dramatically as the population ages. Rural and regional communities face unique challenges in delivering high quality, appropriate services in response to these demands.”
