NSW Minister for Disability Services Kristina Keneally and Member for Maitland Frank Terezini today officially opened a new respite centre at Ashtonfield for children with a disability living in the Hunter.
Ms Keneally said this new facility will provide respite to 33 children and families from the broad Hunter region from January 2008.
“Grevillea House will offer five bedrooms and three living areas equipped with toys so the children – aged from seven to 13 – can play and interact with each other, “Ms Keneally said.
“More than one in 10 members of the New South Wales community are carers – dedicated citizens, usually family members, making an unsung yet indispensable contribution to our social fabric.
“Many people have told me that, while caring for those they know and love is rewarding, it can also be tiring and stressful.
“That’s why carers need care, too. They need to know that they are valued by our community and that practical support is available to make their role a little bit easier.
“Facilities like these provide vital services and support not only to the person with a disability but also to their families and carers.
Ms Keneally said the Iemma Government understood the importance of respite care for people who care for a person with a disability and it was committed to expanding these services.
“That is why Stronger Together, the Government’s comprehensive 10-year plan to improve disability services, provides an additional $62 million for new respite places over the first five of its years,” Ms Keneally said.
“In the 2006-07 financial year, we have rolled out 1060 new respite places, including 877 places under Stronger Together, made up of 164 new flexible respite places and 713 centrebased places.”
Mr Terezini said that Grevillea House would vastly improve access to services and supports to families in the local community.
“This is a welcome addition to services in our area for people with a disability, their families and carers,” Mr Terezini said.
“I am pleased to see that our local community is getting its fair share of the Iemma Government’s historic increase in funding for disability services.”