Improving outcomes for Seniors and First Australians in the Goldfields

Delivering first-class aged care and improving the health of First Australians in the Goldfields region of Western Australia is a high priority for the Morrison Government.The Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care and Minister for Indigenous Health, Ken Wyatt AM, today joined the Member for O’Connor, Rick Wilson, on a visit to Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie where the pair discussed the Government’s absolute commitment to improving outcomes for local First Nations people and senior Australians.Minister Wyatt and Mr Wilson sat down with representatives from local government and aged care and Aboriginal health organisations to discuss the Government’s priorities – and to listen to their views.During the trip, the pair visited the Shire of Coolgardie (where they also met with representatives of the Judumul Advisory Aboriginal Corporation), Bega Garnbirringu Health Service, Eastern Goldfields Community Centre, Amana Living Edward Collick Home and the Kalgoorlie Police and Community Youth Centre."The Australian Government is investing record funding to provide better access to aged care, better quality of aged care and to help senior Australians to age well by staying healthy, active and independent," Minister Wyatt said."We have backed this in by providing an additional $5 billion over five years through the 2018–19 Federal Budget so that all senior Australians – including those living in Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie – have access to the support they need."As part of our record aged care budget, we have allocated a record 3295 new residential care places for Western Australia this year."Western Australian providers will also get to share in $60 million for capital investment in new and expanded facilities, providing senior Australians with choice and quality in aged care when they need it, no matter where they live."Mr Wilson said he was pleased to speak with staff in local Aboriginal health services to learn more about what they were doing to improve outcomes in Kalgoorlie and Coolgardie."We will work closely with First Nations communities to Close the Gap and achieve health equality. This is an achievable goal," Mr Wilson said."The Australian Government is committed to improving the health of local Aboriginal seniors through the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care service in O’Connor."The Government provided $54.3 million for residential aged care services, $8.8 million for home care services and $717,000 for Commonwealth Home Support Programme services in the electorate of O’Connor in 2016–17.As at 30 June 2017, O’Connor had 19 residential aged care services with a total of 903 operational residential aged care places and three Commonwealth Home Support Programme services.Indigenous health will receive $3.9 billion over four years and $10 billion over a decade through the 2018–19 Budget to improve health outcomes for First Australians.