MAY 9, 2018 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + THE WEST’S BEST PROPERTY GUIDE
Aged-care jobs limbo By Charlene Macaulay Up to 100 Wyndham council jobs are in limbo due to the introduction of the federal government’s aged-care reforms. Wyndham council voted last week to continue offering in-home support services – which includes domestic assistance, personal care and respite – until federal funding ends on June 30, 2020. After that, it is likely that the council will cease providing in-home care. Under the new system, residents will register with the My Aged Care website, be assessed as to what services they may need and given a choice of service providers. Deputy mayor Walter Villagonzalo said that post-2020, the council would “need to consider a transition plan for our community and Wyndham city staff”.
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There’s many more agencies starting to provide - Jenny McMahon services
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A picture perfect day
(Joe Mastroianni)
“The exact timing of this transition is not yet known, but council is committed to keeping residents, clients and their carers informed throughout this journey,” he said. City life director Jenny McMahon added: “We’re supporting our staff to consider what they might want to do in the future, where they might want to go. “Clearly, there’ll be lots of jobs in the sector, I have no doubt about that. There’s many more agencies starting to provide services in Wyndham than what there were before.” Wyndham council community support manager Melinda Chapman said the changes could affect about 100 full-time, part-time and casual staff, some of whom were already working with other providers. The council also voted last week to not register as a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) service provider for the foreseeable future. But Ms McMahon said the council might offer disability services in the future if there was demand. “While we’ve decided not to register as a NDIS provider at this point in time, what we’re actually doing is monitoring the sector really closely and watching the development of those services to ensure that the community’s needs are being met,” she said. “If there is a case where there is a gap or an unmet need, then council may go back and reconsider that.”
You’ve been the apple of her eye since the moment you were born – now it’s your turn to shower your mum with gifts and love. Make Mother’s Day picture perfect by getting snap happy at the Williams Landing Shopping Centre pop-up photo booth on Friday and Saturday. Pose for a picture with your mum or get your siblings together and create a fun photo your mum will love. Customers can use the photo booth for free and will receive free print outs and digital versions of the photos and a magnetic frame for the fridge. Williams Landing mum Michelle Knezevic had fun playing with props to create the perfect image with her daughter Mila, 3. Charlene Macaulay