JULY 10, 2018 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + THE WEST’S BEST PROPERTY GUIDE
Home care set to end By Tate Papworth Home care services such as domestic assistance, respite care and personal care will no longer be provided by Brimbank council from 2020. More than 900 people currently receive home care services from the council, with about 75 staff providing these services. The council said the move away from delivering the services was in response to changes initiated by the federal government. The council’s acting director community wellbeing, John MacDonagh, said changes to the way the Commonwealth Home Support Programme was funded and delivered meant other service providers could compete with councils to deliver home support services.
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No longer the bridesmaid
We’re talking about the most vulnerable people in - David Simpson our society
(Joe Mastroianni)
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It is unclear how many council jobs will go as a result of the changes. The council, however, said not all services will go, with some aged and disability services, including delivered meals, community transport and social support programs to continue beyond the 2020 deadline. Brimbank resident David Simpson, who’s wife has used Brimbank council services for 20 years, said they were still required. “We’re talking about the most vulnerable people in our society,” he said. “These council workers get to know them and develop relationships with patients – that’s a vitally important part of these services which will now be gone. “A lot of residents under 65 who need home help with things like showering, being put on the toilet, dressing, house cleaning, minor home repairs and gardening will be hard hit by this.” Mr Simpson believes the way in which the services will be provided after June, 2020, will create problems. “We’ve got the NDIS in place for people under 65 and those older than 65, we have aged welfare services,” he said. “But we’ve already seen problems with the NDIS – it’s proving to be a challenge and it’s completely different to the aged welfare services.” “There is going to be definite gap between the two services and someone will need to pick up the slack. That is why the council should not get out of one of its core services.”
Aneta Pazeski set herself a lofty goal six years ago – the Cairnlea entrepreneur wanted to create the best bridesmaid dress business in Australia. That ambitious dream became a reality last month when her business, Bridesmaids Dressing Room, won its first national award – for best bridesmaid business at the ninth National Designer of Dreams Awards. Ms Pazeski said the award was thrilling. “Reaching this level in terms of winning best bridesmaid business in Australia is a huge achievement,” she said. “I wrote a business plan six years ago and on that plan I wrote that I wanted to be the best bridesmaid business in Australia. “I didn’t quite know what that meant at the time, or how it would come to fruition, but achieving this award is testament that we’re doing the right thing by our customers.” Mz Pazeski said she’d always had a passion for design, but needed a push to take the leap into starting her own business. “When I was young, I was always creating clothing and drawing, but my parents told me the corporate world was the way to go,” she said. “I worked in accounting and law firms and then finally decided to follow my passion.” Ms Pazeski has her sights set on expanding. “I want to grow my business, develop a sales team and expand nationally,” she said. “The goal is to establish showrooms in each state. Our next step is to set up our East Keilor showroom, which will be happening in about three weeks. “We’re tripling the size of what we’ve got currently. We’ll have the space to be able to consult with three bridal parties, whereas at the moment we only have the room for one.” Tate Papworth