The Australian Government is investing a further $8 million to expand the delivery of innovative respite support programs for Australians living with dementia and their carers.
Eight new grants have been awarded to providers as part of the 'Improving respite care for people with dementia and their carers' program.
This investment directly supports families and unpaid carers of people with dementia by increasing access to innovative dementia-specific respite services in 4 jurisdictions.
Through this program, providers across Australia are delivering a better respite experience for people with dementia and their carers. This is being achieved through access to carer education and wellbeing supports, respite care planning and dementia-specific respite training to enhance the skills and strengthen the capacity of the aged care sector.
The recipients are BaptistCare NSW & ACT, Brightwater Care Group, Southern Cross Care WA, Anglicare Southern Queensland, CatholicCare Central Queensland, the Roman Catholic Trust for the Diocese of Cairns and Carers NT Limited.
The new grants will be used for 2 types of activities, in the following states and territories:
- Western Australia - carer education and wellbeing programs catering for both the carer and person living with dementia
- Northern Territory, Queensland and Australian Capital Territory - innovative respite care programs and planning for people with dementia and their carers.
This program was established following the royal commission and, so far, a total of $60.1 million has been allocated to improve dementia respite.
The Australian Government is committed to improving the quality of life for people with dementia and their carers. This new investment represents another step towards achieving this goal.
