CATHERINE KING MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR HEALTH AND MEDICARE
MEMBER FOR BALLARAT
RICHARD MARLES
SHADOW MINISTER FOR DEFENCE
MEMBER FOR CORIO
LIBBY COKER
LABOR CANDIDATE FOR CORANGAMITE
LABOR WILL DELIVER NEW ANAM CARA FOR GEELONG
A Shorten Labor Government will invest $15 million to build a new Anam Cara House, ensuring that people in the Barwon region have the best possible care at the end of life.
This election will be a choice between a Shorten Labor Government with a plan for the services our community needs, or more of the Liberals’ cuts and chaos.
Anam Cara has been providing vital palliative care and respite services in Geelong since 2007. But its current facilities are outdated and too small, limiting the services that hardworking staff can provide to locals.
At the 2016 election, both Labor and the Liberals committed to help build a new Anam Cara House. Labor welcomed bipartisan support for this project and assumed that the Liberals would deliver it between 2016 and 2019.
Unfortunately though, progress has stalled under the Liberals, with the promised funding yet to be delivered.
This project and people in the Barwon region shouldn’t have to wait any longer. That’s why a Shorten Labor Government will invest $15 million to build a new Anam Cara House. Labor’s commitment includes the $5 million promised by the Liberals, as well as an additional $10 million.
In combination with contributions from the community, Labor’s commitment will deliver a new 20 bed community hospice on Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds Campus. This site will enable a partnership with Deakin’s School of Medicine and Faculty of Health.
The facility will be home-like and purpose-built, and will deliver an expanded range of palliative and respite services to people with a life-limiting illness and their families. Anam Cara Geelong is the only specialised residential palliative care facility in the region to integrate overnight care in a home-like environment.
“Anam Cara is providing a unique and compassionate end-of life service that is considered world’s best practice,” Member for Corio Richard Marles said.
“But we know that it can only continue to do that in a new Anam Cara House – which only Labor will deliver”.
“This commitment by Labor is made with the knowledge of the exceptional level of care and service provided by Anam Cara for the region,” Labor Candidate for Corangamite Libby Coker said.
“Labor will deliver where the Liberals have stalled. We believe you should get the same access to quality services whether you live in Melbourne or a regional area.”
“Labor is committed to improving palliative care in all settings, and to helping all Australians be as comfortable as possible at the end of their life,’’ Shadow Health Minister Catherine King said.
“I thank Libby Coker and Richard Marles for their strong advocacy for this project, and for people in the Barwon region.”
This investment is further proof that only Labor can be trusted to deliver the best possible care and support to people in the Barwon region and around Australia.
SATURDAY, 27 APRIL 2019