11 November 2008

The Minister for Ageing, Mrs Justine Elliot today detailed the next stage of the Australian Government’s $46 million Indigenous Aged Care Plan – which includes the first overnight aged care service at Mutitjulu near Uluru and a general works and equipment program to lift standards.

There are 30 nursing homes and hostels with significant Indigenous populations and 29 Aboriginal flexible aged care services in Australia. On October 9, Mrs Elliot visited a flexible aged care service at Katherine and a respite aged care service at Mutitjulu – where female community elders expressed their concerns about a lack of an overnight aged care service.

(The Department of Health and Ageing has identified that East Arnhem and Alice Springs, which takes in Mutitjulu – as the highest priority areas in the NT.) “This is about taking practical and commonsense measures to improve the care and welfare of older indigenous Australians,” Mrs Elliot said.

For more information, contact Mrs Elliot's office on (02) 6277 7280. Media contact Kathryn Conroy 0448 249 447

Abridged
SOURCE: Dept. of Health and Ageing (Australia)
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