Good morning and thank you for your warm welcome. Before I go on I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Gundugura people.
Other acknowledgements:
- Chairman, Mr Frank Williams OAM;
- General Manager, Denis Marshall;
- Directors and board members;
- The Federal Member for Hume Alby Schultz and his wife Gloria;
- Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a pleasure to be here with you representing the Australian Government and my colleague, Justine Elliott, the Minister for Ageing. I spoke with Minister Elliott and she passed on her very good wishes, and is sorry she couldn’t join us.
This really is an impressive facility, a great step forward for our region and a great improvement for the Crookwell Frail Aged Association.
I live in this region, about 15 kilometres outside of Goulburn. And, let’s be honest, as we think about the future, it’s a great relief to see such tremendous services like this not far from home!
I congratulate the directors for their ongoing commitment and vision in aged care. This commitment and vision dates way back to 1975, when the association established Banfield House. They then went on to purchase Harley Nursing Home in 1992.
Both facilities have served their residents well, but with alterations to the buildings over the years, and with an understanding of future needs in residential aged care here in Crookwell, the association secured this site for a new, combined facility.
I have no doubt Viewhaven Lodge will deliver great benefits for its residents and the community, including:
- Combining low-care and high-care places in one location;
- Better care for people with dementia, Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease;
- Improved and private palliative care facilities;
- Flexible accommodation for couples, and;
- More single rooms, and rooms with en suite bathrooms.
We need aged care centres like this because, to me, civil society is measured by the way in which we treat our most vulnerable people, and that includes our elderly citizens. State-of-the-art, dignified aged care is a cornerstone of a socially inclusive society.
We also can’t underestimate how important this accommodation for couples is – because as we get older, we need to be close to those we love.
I have no doubt residents and staff would agree – this is a pretty good spot to live and work.
Crookwell is a beautiful town and the centre of a rich agricultural and pastoral district. It’s worth noting that two of the world's longest cattle treks departed from Crookwell in the 19th century, and the first branch of the Country Women's Association was formed here in 1922.
This is a region with an important history, and a region I’ve been proud to call my home for many years.
A lot of time and effort has gone into the development of Viewhaven and I commend everyone involved in the building and relocation. It’s been an enormous project, worth almost $8,000,000 dollars.
I’m delighted to see the Commonwealth helped out too, providing nearly $3.5 million in a capital grant. And I’m glad to say the Government’s assistance doesn’t stop there.
In the 2008/09 Federal Budget handed down earlier this month, the government announced a number of measures to deliver our election promises in aged care and meet the challenges the sector faces into the 21st century.
Today, there are two million Australians aged 70 and over, which makes up about 10 per cent of the population. But, in the next 20 years, this number will double to four million. So what we do now is really important in getting our aged care policies right tomorrow.
A few of Budget announcements have been:
- An increase in the level of the Conditional Adjustment Payment of more than $407 million over four years. This will benefit the more than 223,000 people who use residential aged care every year, in nearly 3,000 homes;
- We’re providing another 2,000 transitional care places by 2012 – to help older people get their independence back after a hospital visit, and;
- An increase in the residential aged care nursing workforce – something I’m sure will please the staff.
I know you would have also seen the recent news that we’ve appointed an Ambassador for Ageing, none other than well known Australian Noeline Brown. Ms Brown will have a strong voice and will be a direct link to the Rudd Government and will promote the programs, activities and needs of older Australians.
And – possibly the best part of all – she lives in the Southern Highlands, so I’m sure the needs of our region and other country areas are at the top of her mind.
The Government’s commitment to positive, supportive and creative new opportunities in aged care is a big part of our Social Inclusion agenda. We want to ensure the older Australians who’ve done so much for this country are looked after properly when they need it.
Strong partnerships between governments, business and the non-profit sector – such as the Crookwell Aged Care Association – will be integral to this.
So thank you again for allowing me to join you today. I wish the residents well in their beautiful new home, in a beautiful part of the world. To all of the staff I offer my support and gratitude, because I strongly believe in your professionalism and commitment to the residents of Viewhaven.
And to Mr. Williams and the directors, I wish you well for the upcoming merger with Taralga’s Phillip Chalker Sunset Lodge, to create a single aged care provider for the Upper Lachlan Shire region.
Another success story in the making I’m sure!
Thank you.