Page 691 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 28 March 2006
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I am also very pleased to report on the significant progress we have made in the area of aged care accommodation. Across the city there are 273 beds and 233 independent living units either under construction or ready to commence construction. We have worked steadily over time with industry and service providers in order to reduce the time people have to wait to access high quality aged persons accommodation. We have initiated a whole-of-government case management approach and this has assisted proponents on virtually all projects. Plans for 138 more beds are going through the development application process and a further 200 beds and 300 independent living units could be ready for construction to begin later this year.
Disability ACT has provided more than $1 million over four years to Carers ACT for respite services for the aging carers of people with disabilities. The funding matches funds from the Australian government and is in addition to current funding under the commonwealth state territory disability agreement. It provides four weeks of respite per year for a primary carer over 70 years of age who is caring for a son or daughter with a disability and two weeks of respite per year for a primary carer aged between 65 and 69 in the event that they need to be hospitalised.
As we all know, getting together and sharing a common interest is an important element of being part of a community. The Canberra community grants program provides funds for community activities to neighbours and groups. In 2004-05, 74 projects were funded to a value of more than $1 million. In January 2006 I announced a further $500,000 in funding to be distributed to another 60 projects across the capital, including the Vietnam Veterans’ Federation ACT, the Majura Women’s Community Group and Volunteering ACT. The list, of course, goes on.
Programs that strengthen the capacity and resilience of individuals also contribute to strong and cohesive communities. Through our community inclusion fund we focus on assisting the most disadvantaged members of our community. We are providing $4.4 million to 25 projects designed to progressively change service delivery and improve social outcomes for individuals, families and communities experiencing disadvantage and social exclusion.
These local community projects are doing much to reduce exclusion in the ACT by helping to overcome indigenous disadvantage, improving educational and employment outcomes for young people and isolated mothers, providing social supports to the elderly and assisting the homeless to regain their independence and access to services. For example, the Early Morning Centre in the city ensures that people in makeshift or emergency accommodation can access support in the morning when other agencies are closed. The integration of frail aged back into the community program helps aged people who live at home and who have become isolated with home visits, shopping trips, visits to the theatre and so on. The SPICE program helps high school students aged 12 to 15 at risk of dropping out prior to completing their year 10 certificate.
Another important element of building a stronger community is giving individuals the ability to have a say in decisions that affect them. When the commonwealth government abolished ATSIC and its 35 regional councils, it signalled its unwillingness to listen to the voice of indigenous Australia. In fact, it went a long way towards removing that voice all together.
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