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THE ALPINE
BRIGHT - POREPUNKAH - MT BEAUTY - TAWONGA - TAWONGA SOUTH Wednesday, May 18, 2022
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An age old problem Bright’s B igh ’ aged g d care needs d b brought gh b back k iinto ffocus iin finall d days y off ffederal d l election l i campaign p ig BY LEAH ANDERSON-BYRNE landersonbyrne@ nemedia.com.au
BRIGHT’S aged care needs have again been put front and centre in the final days of the federal election campaign in Indi. Independent incumbent Helen Haines was in town on Friday meeting with community members to continue her advocacy for a new 35-bed ‘high needs’ aged care facility (and potentially leading to a total of 49 beds), as part of the ambitious $40 million Bright Health Precinct. Dr Haines called on both the major parties to commit to the $26 million in federal funding sought for the aged care development, following the State Government’s committment of $1.5 million to finalise designs and planning for the overall precinct project earlier this month. “It is high time the Federal Coalition and Labor parties invested in this facility for Bright,” she said. “This community has called for a dedicated highcare facility for decades. “Without one, older people may have to leave the only place they know and move to another town. “Their spouses may be too old to drive to visit them and public transport for
SUPPORT: Indi Independent MP Helen Haines (right) met with members of the Bright Hospital Op Shop on Friday with the town’s ongoing aged care needs the hot topic. Pictured are (from left) Leslie Hopper, Ian Nicholls, Annie Rothwell, Ron Sibley, Catherine Eldred, Julie Smith and Peter Hopper. relatives and friends is sporadic or non-existent.” Alpine Health chief executive officer Nick Shaw thanked Dr Haines for her continued support. “We agree with the Independent federal member for Indi and support the call for both the Federal Coalition and Labor Party to commit capital funding for the Bright aged care redevelopment,” he said. “The recently announced $1.52 million from the Victorian State Government to allow the Bright Health Precinct masterplan to pro-
gress to detailed planning means that the only limitation to realising new aged care services for Bright is the lack of capital investment to build the project. “We would hope that both parties recognise the work of the Royal Aged Care Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, alongside the needs of our community and commit now to an investment in a new aged care facility for the Bright and District community.” Liberal, National and Labor party candidates for Indi all told the Alpine
Observer this week that they support the project. Liberal Ross Lyman said he had discussed the project with Mr Shaw on multiple occasions, “getting an in depth understanding of the community’s health and aged care needs”. “If I am elected, I will be championing this project in government, and working to secure funding for the Bright facility and Alpine Health more broadly,” he said. “It is examples like this that made me put my hand up to run for the Liberal Party at this election.
“For three years communities all over Indi have been asking for help from their local member, and they haven’t got it. “It is abundantly clear only the Liberal team, in government, can deliver the support our communities are seeking.” The Nationals’ Elizabeth Fisher said that having met with members of the community and Alpine Health, she knows how important it is that Bright has aged care facilities that allow locals to receive the care they need in their community”.
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“Being part of The Nationals’ means that if elected, I will be able to work closely with our state and federal parliamentarians, including the Regional Health Minister, to champion the health and aged care needs of not only Bright, but all Indi communities,” she said. Labor’s Nadia David said the project was “impressive and ready to go”. “It clearly has broad community support and there is also a demonstrated requirement for high needs aged care in Bright,” she said this week. “People in and around Bright have been forced to either put up with sub-standard facilities, despite the best efforts of amazing staff, or move into larger centres like Wangaratta and Benalla away from family and friends. “Both Shadow Minister for Aged Care, Claire O'Neill, and Shadow Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing, Ged Kearney, are fully briefed on this project, with Ged touring the Bright Hospital Precinct not long ago. “Both are clear that Bright needs this funding to build a vital service for this community and that it won’t be built without federal support. “I am committed to following through on those discussions and I’m very confident a Labor Government will get this done for Bright.”
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