3 February 2017

More high care places in Emmaville (Vegetable Creek), Manilla, Tingha and Werris Creek Multi-Purpose Services (MPS) will allow older residents, with increasing care needs, to stay connected with their communities.

Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce has welcomed the announcement by the Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ken Wyatt AM, MP, about the changed allocation of places through the MPS Program for rural, regional and remote communities.

“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,” Minister Wyatt said.

The MPS Program is a jointly funded Australian, state and territory government initiative providing integrated health and aged care services to small rural, regional and remote communities.  Places have been allocated across selected new and existing Multi-Purpose Services in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and New South Wales.

Mr Joyce said the additional funding is great news for the New England Electorate and will help support older local residents by providing a higher level of care.

“The changes mean four low care places at Emmaville (Vegetable Creek) MPS will become high care places.  At Manilla MPS, seven low care places will become high care places. At Tingha two low care places will become high care places, while two low care places at Werris Creek will become high care places”, Mr Joyce said.

“It’s important that the aged care needs of older Australians are met, irrespective of where they live and the changing aged care services in the New England Electorate means we can better care for our older community members in familiar surroundings.  This announcement will make a real and positive difference to the lives of our senior residents and their families.”