A number of state run aged care providers will share $8.5 million in funding for the Multi-Purpose Services (MPS) Program for aged care in regional, rural and remote communities.
The budget allocation is up from $5.79 million for the program last year, and will increase each year by $6.8 million as a result of the allocation of new places and allocating funding to existing providers to deliver increased care to older people with complex care needs, a Department of Health spokesperson told Inside Ageing.
The MPS Program is a jointly funded Commonwealth and state and territory government initiative providing integrated health and aged care services to small regional, rural and remote communities.
The new funding includes:
- the establishment of new services in Bamaga and Richmond (Queensland);
- 45 additional places across 12 services in Queensland, New South Wales and Western Australia; and
- an increase in funding to deliver a higher level of care for 156 places across 28 services in New South Wales, Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.
The funds will go to the following approved providers:
- Queensland Health
- Murrumbidgee LHD
- WA Country Health Service
- Hunter New England LHD
- Western NSW LHD
- Country Health SA
- Mid West Health & Aged Care
“Australia’s population is ageing rapidly so it’s imperative that we structure our aged care system so it is flexible, provides greater choice, is people-centred and sustainable,” Minister Wyatt said in a press release last week announcing the 2016 funding round of the MPS program.
“No matter where people live, aged care services must be available to communities across the nation and in all its diversity.
“It’s important that older people with increasing or complex care needs are able to stay close to loved ones and where they have established community ties.”
“People are staying healthy and active for longer and the aged care system has to adapt to that reality,” Minister Wyatt said.
“The Australian Government’s aged care reforms are built on the core principle that people are the centre of the system – and individual consumers, now and in the future, must be able to choose the kind of care and support they need, where and when they need it.
“The additional MPS Program funding announced today will benefit some of our smaller regional, rural or remote communities by addressing their specific aged care needs.”
A total of 156 places received increased funding for existing services under the program:
| MULTI-PURPOSE SERVICES PLACES ALLOCATION | ||
| State | Service Location | Number of Places with increased funding |
| NSW | Boggabri | 5 |
| Emmaville (Vegetable Creek) | 4 | |
| Manilla | 7 | |
| Tingha | 2 | |
| Werris Creek | 2 | |
| Batlow-Adelong | 5 | |
| Urana | 5 | |
| Brewarrina | 3 | |
| Grenfell | 5 | |
| Dunedoo | 6 | |
| Nyngan | 8 | |
| Warren | 10 | |
| Queensland | Woorabinda | 5 |
| Dirranbandi | 4 | |
| Mitchell | 5 | |
| South
Australia |
Ceduna | 9 |
| Lower Eyre – Cummins | 8 | |
| Lower Eyre – Tumby Bay | 8 | |
| Kingston SE/Robe | 4 | |
| Penola | 18 | |
| Flinders Ranges – Quorn | 16 | |
| Mid-West – Elliston | 6 | |
| Western
Australia |
Plantagenet | 3 |
| Bruce Rock | 2 | |
| Kununoppin | 1 | |
| Lake Grace | 2 | |
| Quairading | 2 | |
| Wongan Hills | 1 | |
The following services receiving funding for 45 new places:
| State | Service | High Care Places |
| New South Wales | Culcairn | 6 |
| Queensland | Injune | 2 |
| Augathella | 2 | |
| Surat | 2 | |
| Springsure | 2 | |
| Collinsville Hospital | 3 | |
| Mundubbera | 2 | |
| Mungindi | 5 | |
| Mitchell | 1 | |
| Weipa Hospital | 4 | |
| Western Australia | Carnarvon | 14 |
| Morawa/ Perenjori | 2 |
For more information about the MPS Program please visit the Department of Health’s website.
