HOME AND COMMUNITY CARE PROGRAM

Mr RAU (Enfield) (15:11): My question is to the Minister for Ageing. What support is being provided to ageing South Australians to continue living independently in their own homes as long as possible?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Northern Suburbs, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (15:11): I am thrilled to be able to inform the house that a new commonwealth-state funding agreement will ensure an additional 14,000 older South Australians and their carers now receive help at home with their personal and respite care, home modifications, community transport and social support. The announcement is also timely given the various events which were held last week in recognition of Carers Week and Carers Day last Tuesday.

The historic joint funding commitment has been agreed by the federal Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot, and is great news for South Australians, providing an additional $35 million. This three-year funding announcement lifts the total of South Australians assisted to remain independent in their own homes to 106,000, up from 92,000. This is another example of the federal government working in partnership with the state government to meet the challenges of the 21^st century and our nation's ageing population.

The funding through the Home and Community Care program will provide a range of important services to help older Australians and those with disabilities to remain living independently in their homes for much longer. Last Wednesday, I had a great deal of pleasure in talking with the Multicultural Communities Council of South Australia at its Gilbert Street offices. I am advised that, over the next four years, the Australian government will provide more than $40 billion to aged and community care. In 2008-09 alone, $2.2 billion of that will be spent on community care.

The HACC program is part of the Australian and South Australian governments' vision for a world-class community system that delivers affordable and accessible care for frail older people, younger people with a disability and their carers. We are constantly reminded that, as people age, they want to remain in their own homes and their own communities. Without home and community care services, many people would have to move prematurely into residential care, a prospect, I am sure, no-one in this house would like to see. The priority groups for the plan will be people with dementia, including people who experience early onset dementia, older people living in supported residential facilities, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as their carers. This funding is important and will deliver a more comfortable life for many South Australians.