Nola Marino (Forrest, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Regional Development and Territories) Share this | Hansard source

I'm pleased to rise on this particular matter of public importance. For those of us who have had family in aged-care facilities or needing home and community care, we understand just what a challenging space this is. We want the people we love the most to get the most care that they possibly can.

There was no doubt when the Prime Minister announced the royal commission—it was one of his first decisions and a very wise one. But he did say at the time that we had to be really prepared for what would come out of that, and he was entirely correct in that statement. The government has responded to the royal commission's interim report and some of the findings in there, in three priority areas: home packages, use of chemical restraints and younger people in residential aged care. They were three of the priority areas identified in the interim report. There are going to be 10,000 extra home care packages as well as funding for medication management programs and for additional dementia training and support.

Having had a mother in permanent care with dementia, I understand personally the very great challenge that this presented and how it was really important for us as a family to take part in her care as much as we possibly could, because essentially our mother was trading one home for another. We saw that part of our job as her family was to love and care for her when she was in that facility as much as we did when she was home. Given that often the only real part of her day that she could remember was us, we took that role particularly seriously. There were times of the day where she was able to cope better than others and times of the day where her mind was more focused than others. We treasured those moments, but I don't underestimate for one moment how challenging her condition was for her and for those who were trying to care for her in that facility. So I really appreciate the work that people in aged care do and how each one of us who has a loved one in a facility needs to be very much part of their lives irrespective of where they are.

I'm also really pleased to talk about a wonderful facility called Treendale Gardens in my part of the world. It actually caters for young people who have previously been in aged-care facilities. This was a direct relationship between, at the time, the local state Liberal government that donated land; the Rotary club that took this on as a project; John Castrilli, the local state member who took it on; and the MS society, which built and runs this facility. It is a genuine way of addressing this issue for young people who are currently in aged-care facilities.

I also at this point want to acknowledge that, in spite of the findings and the toughness of this royal commission, there are very good home care providers out there today doing a fabulous job in what they do. The Aged Care Services Australia Aged Care Awards recognised recently and highlighted the important work that is being done in aged care across Australia. They recognised one of South West Community Care's outstanding services to clients in their homes with the WA aged-care Provider of the Year award. They also achieved the Employer Excellence in Aged Care Award at the Western Australian Regional Achievement and Community Awards. They offer extensive care and activities. They also provide a whole lot of love to people who need it most. CEO Claire Roach is very passionate about delivering services in true partnership with South West Community Care clients, and they love the people who care for them. She's also very rightly proud of those skilled and caring staff. I want to congratulate and thank South West Community Care, Claire Roach and her staff, for their work and thank every one of those workers who spend their time caring for our loved ones when they need intensive care.

See this speech in context