Older people, people with a disability, their families and carers living in the Illawarra are set to benefit from the Iemma Government’s allocation of an estimated $97.3 million to fund support services and programs in the region in the 2008/09 NSW budget.
NSW Minister for Ageing and Disability Services, Kristina Keneally, said the massive investment reflects Labor’s spending and policy priorities outlined by the Premier in Stronger Together, and recently endorsed by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
"The budget demonstrates the NSW Government’s commitment to ensuring the Illawarra has specialist and mainstream services to respond to the needs of people with a disability, older people and their carers," Ms Keneally said.
"An estimated $68.4 million will be spent on disability services in the Illawarra region and a further $28.9 million will be spent on Home and Community Care (HACC) services, to assist frail older people and people with a disability to live independently in the community."
Ms Keneally said that people living in the Illawarra region would share in new state wide funding of:
• $1.5 million for supported accommodation;
• $400,000 for extra respite services;
• $300,000 to prevent younger people entering nursing homes;
• $300,000 to provide an extra 4 attendant care places; and
• $100,000 for therapy services.
"This budget strengthens the NSW Government’s ability to build better service systems to support people with a disability, older people and their carers," Ms Keneally said.