Rural and regional NSW will receive $821 million in 2008/09 for programs supporting people with a disability, their families, their carers and older people.
NSW Minister for Ageing and Disability Services, Kristina Keneally, said today that rural and regional NSW will receive more than 46 per cent of the $2.024 billion of disability and ageing services to be delivered by the Iemma Government in 2008/09.
"The Iemma Government has increased funding for regional and rural services to people with disabilities and the frail aged by a significant 7.5 percent in 2008/09," Ms Keneally said.
"This will fund continued increases in services to regional and rural NSW such as therapy, respite, supported accommodation, case management and post-school programs, as well as the development of new and innovative programs.
"2008/09 is the third year of the Iemma Government’s historic reshaping of the sector under its 10-year Stronger Together strategy, which will deliver an extra $1.3 billion in funding over its first five years."
Ms Keneally gave a regional breakdown of 2008/09 funding for NSW disability programs and services, as well as funding allocated for Home and Community Care (HACC) services which help frail older people and people with a disability maintain their independence:
• In the Riverina Murray: more than $36 million for disability programs and services and a further $22 million for HACC services;
• In the Far West: more than $23 million for disability programs and services and a further $14 million for HACC services;
• In the Central West: more than $36 million for disability programs and services and a further $14 million for HACC services;
• On the Far North Coast: more than $57 million for disability programs and services and a further $24 million for HACC services;
• In New England: more than $30 million for disability programs and services and a further $15 million for HACC services;
• On the Mid-North Coast: more than $42 million for disability programs and services and a further $27 million for HACC services;
• In the Illawarra: more than $68 million for disability programs and services and a further $28 million for HACC services;
• In the Southern Highlands: more than $42 million for disability programs and services and a further $16 million for HACC services;
• In the Hunter: more than $199 million for disability programs and services and a further $43 million for HACC services; and
• On the Central Coast: more than $49 million for disability programs and services and a further $26 million for HACC services;
"The Iemma Government is following through on its commitment to care for some of NSW’s most vulnerable people," Ms Keneally said.
"We have sought to provide the additional funding needed under Stronger Together to make an impact on service levels immediately while planning for long-term, sustainable changes that will deliver a more flexible, efficient, transparent and fairer system.
"The immediate impact has been the delivery of more respite places, more therapy places, more places in programs aimed at providing people with the skills and support to get more out of life, and more support for families."