Media Statement - 24th July 2008
The Australian Government announced the first 35 operational places out
of its 228 fully funded places under its $293.2 million transition care
plan which helps older Australians recover and regain their
independence after a major hospital stay,
The 35 places – which are already operating – are located in Victoria, South Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.
They came into operation on July 1 and are expected to help 1050 older Australians a year over the next four years.
The places are:
- Central Northern Adelaide Health Services Transition Care Service – 10 residential and community care places (South Australia);
- Country Health South Australia Transition Care Service – seven residential and community care places (South Australia);
- ACT Health Transition Care Program – two community based, expansion of existing ACT Health (Australian Capital Territory).
- Ballarat Health Transition Care – four new residential based places (Victoria);
- Northern Health Transition Care - two community based places (Victoria);
- Bendigo Health Transition Care – four community based places (Victoria); and
- Melbourne Health Transition Care – six community-based places (Victoria).
Brightwater Transition Care Program in Western Australia expects to provide eight residential and 10 community-based transition care places in the north and southeast metropolitan areas of Perth soon.
By August, this will bring the new operational transition care places to 57 places out of 228.
Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot made the announcement in a major speech to Australia’s Ageing Population Summit 2008 – in Melbourne.
Mrs Elliot said: “Older Australians – after being in hospital – want to return to their homes rather than going to a nursing home prematurely.”
“This is about making sure that older Australians retain their independence and ensuring their quality of life,” Mrs Elliot said.
“This is also about preparing for the challenges of the 21st century and responding to the needs of Australia’s ageing population.”
On June 28, the Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot announced 228 fully-funded transition places.
The 228 places are expected to benefit up to 1,710 older Australians – in a full year – as each funded place will be used by up to eight (7.5) different older Australians a year.
By mid-2012, up to 92,500 older Australians would benefit from the Transition Care Program. This is a Rudd Labor Government election commitment.
Transition care provides a package of services tailored to the person’s needs. This may include a range of low intensity therapy services and nursing support and/or personal care services.
Examples of low intensity therapy services may include:
- physiotherapy;
- occupational therapy;
- dietetics;
- podiatry; and
- speech therapy, counselling, and social work.
- showering, dressing; eating and eating aids;
- managing incontinence;
- transport to appointments; and
- moving, walking, and communication.
This builds on the previous Government’s 2,000 transition care places which were funded jointly with the States and Territories. The new program is fully funded by the Commonwealth.
The increase will bring the capacity of the Transition Care Program to 4,000 places by the end of the 2011-12 financial year. When all places are fully operational, up to 30,000 older people may benefit from transition care each year.
These places will become operational progressively over the year – 35 of them commenced on July 1, 2008.