Funding for carer respite extended

May 12, 2008

The Member for Eden-Monaro, Mike Kelly, has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to extend 555 funding agreements for respite and carer support services until June 2011.

Mike Kelly, Member for Eden-Monaro

The agreements come under the National Respite for Carers Program (NRCP) and the affiliated Commonwealth Carelink Program (CCP) which were due to expire on June 30.

Services in Eden Monaro will benefit from the offers of extended funding.

In 2007-08 the Government allocated more than $2.4 million in the electorate to Alzheimers Australia NSW (provides services in the Bega Valley area), Cooma Challenge Limited, Eurobodalla Shire Council, Narrama Multi Service Aboriginal Corporation (Narooma), Queanbeyan City Council, Respite Care Bega Valley, Snowy River Shire Council and Valmar Support Service Limited (Tumut and Tumbarumba Shires).

More than $420 million, plus indexation of around $18 million, will be provided to respite and carer support services over the next three years through these extended funding agreements.

“The extension will give community-based respite and carer support services the certainty they need to plan and manage their operations and continue to deliver high quality services,” Dr Kelly said.

“Access to timely respite care and other carer support is crucial to sustaining carers in their role. The Government estimates that the NRCP and CCP programs alone provide respite care, counselling, carer information and support services as well as carer planning to nearly 130,000 carers per year.

“The Rudd Government understands how greatly the community values the respite and other carer support services delivered under the two programs.”

The Government is also committed to improving the operation of the community care sector, including through streamlining respite services to create a more sensible system for carers.

Officers of the Department of Health and Ageing will be contacting soon, services with expiring NRCP and CCP agreements, to provide more information about the extensions process, Dr Kelly said.

Carers who want more information about these services should contact their local Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre on 1800 059 059.