Page 4080 - Week 15 - Thursday, 17 December 1992
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out there living in their own homes or in rented accommodation. Those are people who dramatically need support services to stay where they are. I think the review of HACC services and the number of recommendations that speak about that will be of great help in making sure that the services that are available to our elderly actually do target appropriately and achieve what they set out to achieve, and that is to keep our elderly in their own homes, in an environment that is supportive and in which they feel safe. Safety is exceptionally important.
The recommendation with regard to Jindalee Nursing Home is not a new one. It comes up time and time again, every time any committee or any body is looking at the nursing home situation in the ACT. I think that is the case under either government. I certainly urge the Government to relook at the Jindalee Nursing Home situation. The relocation of Jindalee is very necessary and long overdue. That, again, has had a certain amount of support under a number of governments.
The recommendation to establish an ACT information office for the aged is another particularly worthwhile recommendation. Lots and lots of organisations and services are available to our elderly, but there is very little capacity for our elderly to access that information if there is not a one-stop shop. We understand that the ACT Council on the Ageing is very keen to be part of the establishment of this information office. I confidently believe that that information office could quite dramatically help our elderly access the services that exist and that would help them to stay at home. Ms Ellis has very appropriately covered the problem for dementia sufferers and the crying need for a day care facility for those people.
Respite beds is a subject that comes up regularly in this place and in others. There is a desperate need for an increase in the number of respite beds. We are also, as a committee, acutely aware of the cost involved. The committee was aware that we should not come down with a report that was just a wish list. I hope that that is not what the report appears to be.
Last but not least, of course, I refer to the convalescent facility. Again, this is something that has support from both sides of this house, something that has been on the books for the ACT for just too long now. It really must go ahead - not in 10 years' time, but, I hope, very shortly. It was brought up by just about every group that we spoke to. It is something that I know this Government promised, as did the Alliance Government. I hope that this report in some way can facilitate this recommendation going forward.
I would also now like to thank, as Ms Ellis did very eloquently, Greg McIntosh for his help. He did a wonderful job and the report, I think, is a credit to him. I also thank Vicki and Simon for their research support for all members of the committee. It was a very non-partisan committee. We worked very well together and I am very proud of the report.
MRS GRASSBY (12.01): Madam Speaker, I rise to briefly make some comments on the report. First, let me say how pleasant it is to serve on a committee where the report has been unanimously endorsed by the committee members. Madam Speaker, the committee has made more than 25 recommendations. I do not intend to speak to every one of them. However, I would like to speak briefly to a recommendation regarding the ethnic aged. I am quite sure that the other members of the committee will mention other areas, as have the chairperson and Mrs Carnell.
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