Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, Member for Canberra Annette Ellis, Member for Fraser Bob McMullan and Senator for the ACT Kate Lundy today announced $93,083 in one-off funding grants for five services that provide respite for carers in the ACT.
The following services in the ACT received funding:
- Carers ACT – $59,000 for Commonwealth Carelink Centre ACT Region
- Community Options Incorporated – $9,351 for Community Options Flexible Respite Program
- Uniting Church in Australia (ACT) – $2,536 for Mirinjani Village Expanded Day Care Program
- Villagio – $18,266 for Villagio Italiano Extended Respite Care Services
- Alzheimers ACT – $3,930 for ACT Respite Links
All three ACT Members welcome these grants, and said “This $93,083 is about helping those at the community level.
“Caring for someone full time is physically and emotionally demanding and carers need to be able to take deserved breaks.
“Respite can allow carers to go to work for a few hours, go to the shops or socialise with friends.
“This funding will help important local services continue to meet the needs of carers in Canberra.”
The funding is part of the Rudd Government’s commitment to carers through the National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP) which this year will provide more than $200 million to respite services and programs in Australia.
Respite services provide valuable time-out for people who care for their friends or family members with conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer’s.
Minister Elliot said: “Carers across this nation play an important role in Australian society. They dedicate so much to improve the quality of the lives of our nation’s elderly and for people with disabilities”.
Almost 2.6 million Australians provide care for family members or friends with a disability, mental illness, chronic condition or who are frail aged. Of these about 500,000 are primary carers – the people who provide the majority of the care.
For information about respite in your area please call Carelink on 1800 052 222 or for emergency respite outside of business hours on 1800 059 059.
Media contact: Annika Hutchins – 0407 458 882 (Lundy)
Sam Casey – 0421 697 660 (McMullan)
Brenton Sloane – 0431 252 698 (Ellis)
