Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator McLachlan for his question. The Australian government is investing $272 million to support senior Australians to access the aged-care services that they need. We will deliver an investment in all Services Australia centres around the country to provide general information in person, face to face, about aged-care services available to them and assist people to use My Aged Care online channels from 31 October.

The new face-to-face aged-care specialists will be available in 70 Services Australia centres in all states and territories and include mobile service centres to reach rural and regional areas. This service will help people with the end-to-end process of accessing aged-care services, including financial information support. We will also be linking up Services Australia and My Aged Care call centres so callers can easily be transferred between the two services. These simple but important measures are designed to make it easier for senior Australians to access the information they need to be in control and make their own choices as they age.

We are investing $93 million to introduce a network of up to 500 local community care finders to improve engagement with vulnerable senior Australians, including people who are homeless. There will be $65 million to provide greater access to translating and interpreting services for culturally and linguistically diverse Australians. We have allocated $7 million to assist advocacy organisations provide better service. This government remains committed to providing senior Australians with the care they need and deserve as they grow older.