Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2002 Week 5 Hansard (8 May) . . Page.. 1278 ..

MS TUCKER (continuing):

members, I will read a couple of the recommendations from the standing committee's report of March 2000:

Recommendation 9. As part of a comprehensive study into unmet need for respite care, the committee recommends the unmet needs of people with dementia be accurately assessed and that an appropriate methodology is utilised to achieve this purpose.

Recommendation 10. The committee recommends that the ACT Government make representations to the Commonwealth about the need to fund a public communication program aimed at removing the stigma associated with dementia.

Recommendation 11. The committee recommends that the government consult with relevant stakeholder groups to develop improved assessment processes to accurately determine the levels of need experienced by people with dementia and their carers.

I have noticed that Mr Cornwell's motion talks about respite care for people with dementia. Ms Dundas' amendment talks about a specific facility for low-level dementia. Mr Cornwell has explained to me privately that he concurs with the words "low-level dementia sufferers" in Ms Dundas' amendment to his motion, and that he agrees that this facility would be for low-level dementia sufferers. I do not know particularly what "low-level" means and maybe there is not a very clear understanding of that.

Committee recommendation No 10 seems to be saying that the issue of assessing exactly the levels of need for people experiencing dementia and their carers needs to be improved. There is a whole issue about how you assess and what is low level and what is medium level. So I am a little bit uncomfortable with the specific use by Ms Dundas of the words "low level", as if it is some kind of specific-

Mr Cornwell: "Early" might be another word.

MS TUCKER: Mr Cornwell suggests "early" might be better. But people can move through that illness at different rates, so that would not work either. Although I will be supporting the government's amendment, those in this place who want to support Ms Dundas' amendment should think about the words "low level". I do not know what those words mean and I do not think the meaning is clear. It may be better if Ms Dundas just uses the words "dementia sufferers" and leaves it as a broader statement.

Recommendation 12 of the committee reads:

The committee recommends that the Government make representations to the Federal Government about the need to apply additional funds to the aged care services sector.

Recommendation 15 reads:

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .