Cheque for aged facilities

Woy Woy Community Nursing Home and Woy Woy Hostel have received from Government funding to help improve fire safety and building standards.

The Federal Minister for Ageing, Julie Bishop, and the Federal Member for Robertson, Jim Lloyd, presented a cheque for $315,000 to Woy Woy Community Aged Care, which operates the hostel and nursing home, while visiting the facilities recently.

"This funding, which represents $3500 per resident, is part of more than $513 million in Australian Government funding allocated to aged care providers in a one-off payment to help them improve safety standards in aged care homes," Ms Bishop said.

"These homes will be able to use the funding to improve building standards and fire safety, which will help ensure their residents continue to receive high quality care in an appropriate and safe environment."

Mr Lloyd said the homes could use the funding for a range of fire safety measures, such as installing fire sprinklers, updating fire safety equipment, engaging a professional fire safety consultant or improving fire safety training for staff.

"The homes may also decide to use the funding to upgrade buildings to meet benchmarks set by the 10-year forward plan for 2008 building certification," Mr Lloyd said.

"This Australian Government funding will give local residents and their families peace of mind, knowing that their aged care homes will continue to meet these stringent standards."

Woy Woy Community Aged Care Association chairman Mr Albert Quilkey had previously outlined some of the proposed extensions to the Nursing Home.

Mr Quilkey said single rooms with en-suites and two-bed rooms with improved facilities would replace four bed wards

Press Release, August 25 Jim Lloyd Member for Robertson