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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2001 Week 9 Hansard (21 August) . . Page.. 3003 ..

MRS BURKE (continuing):

The first target group is women over 50 years who have experienced family breakdown, including that area of elder abuse, who are unable to live independently for financial reasons. Using an eight-unit boarding house will be a good solution, or one option. These women, who may be ineligible for public or community housing because of a financial interest in a property, for example, are emerging as a group for whom there are no safe and affordable accommodation options. Support packages would include SAAP transitional support, Home and Community Care, language assistance and financial counselling. Other targeted groups at this stage include youth and people with mental illness, but we are basing this around the elder abuse.

The ACT government continues its participation in the national Healthy Ageing Task Force, through the Chief Minister's Department. The HATF has a focus on elder abuse. The Aged Care Assessment Team, or ACAT, is developing procedures responding to elder abuse. Much work has started on this matter.

The CC link program, another good initiative, provides discharge planning services and visits older people in wards not going to the aged care facility and people over 70 attending accident and emergency. Activities under this program are designed to ease and relieve pressure.

I turn our attention to the carers. The ACT government recognises the needs that carers may have. This also came through in our report as an area of strain for families. Bearing in mind that elderly people often only want to be looked after by their family members, that makes it even more difficult. The Department of Health, Housing and Community Care purchased 26,756 hours of community or in-home respite and 55,895 hours of centre-based respite that was available to carers of older people.

The government has also purchased services that support carers in their role, things that will help them in their endeavours to look after their loved ones. There are the skills for carers courses at the CIT, for instance, under the Carers Association. Services purchased from the Carers Association include the non-English speaking isolated carers project, and an information and support service. All of these are valuable things.

The ACT continues working with the community in identifying the needs of older people, including the Aged Care Health Services Advisory Council and the Council on the Ageing, ACT. COTA has been engaged to undertake a needs analysis of older people and their health needs. Their input into this report, Mr Speaker, has been highly valued.

A memorandum of understanding is being developed between the ACT Community and Health Services Complaints Commissioner and the Commonwealth Aged Care Complaints Resolution Service which will ensure that the ACT commissioner becomes aware of abuse of older persons reported to the Commonwealth Aged Care Complaints Resolution Service.

At this stage I would like to thank the other members of the committee, in particular the chair, Mr Bill Wood, and my colleague Mr Dave Rugendyke. Thank you for your help and assistance in this short and steep learning curve. Finally, I must extend a hearty thank you to David Skinner for his exceptional secretariat work for this committee.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

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