Joint Media Release with Minister For Senior Australians and Aged Care The Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP and Country Liberals Candidate for Solomon Kathy Ganley

Country Liberals Senator for the Northern Territory, Nigel Scullion, and CLP Candidate for Solomon, Kathy Ganley, have welcomed eight additional short-term restorative care places announced for Darwin by the Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care, Ken Wyatt AM, as part of the record 2018–19 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR).

“Short-term restorative care can be life-changing, helping people remain living independently in their own homes for as long as possible and improving their health and wellbeing,” Senator Scullion said.

“The short-term restorative care plan is designed with, and approved by, the person receiving the care and can be delivered at home, in a residential aged care home or a combination of both.

“I know senior Territorians in Darwin want and need flexible services to help them live better and longer lives.

“Short-term restorative care is just that – helping people age well and access care when and where they need it, to restore them to independence.”

In total, 775 new short-term restorative care places will be allocated across Australia, 350 in 2018–19, with the remaining 425 places to be allocated in 2019-20. The Australian Government is investing an estimated $58 million each year in these new places. This is on top of the $34.7 million made available by the Liberal National Government for short-term restorative care in 2017–18.

Mrs Ganley said a total of eight places have been allocated to services in Darwin.

“These places will be available to help senior Territorians in Darwin maintain their independence and live in their community in the company of family and friends,” Mrs Ganley said.

Additional residential aged care places and capital grant components of the 2018–19 ACAR will be announced by April 2019.

The Coalition Government has invested an extra $1 billion a year in aged care services since 2013 and is continuing its record investment, with increases of more than $5.5 billion over the next four years.

Information about the 2018−19 ACAR short-term restorative care outcomes, including details of the successful approved providers, is available at www.agedcare.health.gov.au/2018-19acar.