CONSTITUENCY STATEMENTS
Mrs ELLIOT (Richmond) (09:39): The fact is our older Australians built this nation. They worked hard, paid their taxes and raised their families, and they continue to play such an important role in our families and our communities. They deserve to be treated with dignity and respect.
That's why our government, the Albanese Labor government, is committed to improving aged-care services and access to health care for older Australians, and we've been doing this since day one of being elected to government. We've delivered record levels of funding to rebuild the aged-care system so that every older Australian can get the care they deserve, including in my electorate of Richmond on the far-north coast of New South Wales.
That's why I recently announced in Ballina that our government is delivering more than $8 million in federal funding from the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program for two North Coast aged-care providers. I made the announcement at St Andrew's Village Ballina. We're delivering $3.8 million for the reconfiguration of existing residential accommodation into four memory-support households, and that will provide 31 beds for people living with dementia.
It's a really important improvement at St Andrew's. Also, Feros village in Bangalow will receive more than $4.2 million for 14 new rooms with private ensuites and upgraded common areas. This funding of course builds on the nearly $3.6 million our government delivered last year for upgrades to St Andrew's village at Byron Bay, also known as George's Cottages.
I also recently announced the Albanese Labor government's delivering $14 million in federal funding for Healthy North Coast to provide the care finder program for the region. This program provides free, individual support for older people needing help to access My Aged Care—and other aged-care services if they have impediments to accessing My Aged Care. It's making a huge difference to so many individuals, and of course all of this builds on the work we're doing to improve aged care right across the country.
Our government is delivering record pay rises for aged-care workers to ensure the aged-care sector continues to deliver a high standard of care for older Australians. From speaking to aged-care workers in my electorate, I know firsthand what a huge difference this is making and I really want to thank all of them for the incredible work that they continue to do.
We're also delivering better care for older Australians by putting nurses back into nursing homes 24/7, and it means that older Australians in residential aged care can get the clinical care that they need when it's required. And, of course, we've already started releasing an additional 20,000 home-care packages starting 1 November, and we're delivering another 63,000 extra Support at Home places by June 2026 so more people can get the care they need when they need it in their own home.
Our government will keep working with older Australians, aged-care providers, aged-care workers—the whole industry—to work together to continuously improve the standard of aged care right across our country.