Member for Moore, Shane Love MLA recently hosted a visit by Senator Fiona Nash, Federal Assistant Health Minister to the Electorate of Moore, giving local government representatives from Toodyay, Chittering and Gingin the opportunity to share their concerns about health and aged care.
Cr Barni Noron raised her concerns about the current method of providing services to residents based on their postcodes. “In the Shire of Chittering, it could be said approximately one third of the residents have a metro-postcode by using 6084. This is the reality for people in Lower Chittering, Chittering, and some parts of Muchea where the mail is sorted and delivered from Bullsbrook Post Office. When those residents want Silver Chain, for example, the service is likely to be provided by their metropolitan office, unless they know to contact the local service. A similar situation occurs for Child Health Services.” said Cr Norton.
Senator Nash responded that “lines drawn on maps” were often not representative of communities and attention was drawn to this issue. Cr Norton also expressed concern for aging residents who needed assistance to continue living at home, particularly those who were caring for a sick spouse. She explained that the formerly run St Johns community care was a huge success in the area in addressing this issue. The group had utilised local volunteers to visit frail and elderly people in the area, and also drove them to appointments in the city as needed.
Unfortunately this fantastic volunteer service was lost when the demands on it Cr Robert Hawes, Shire of Chittering, Senator Fiona Nash, Federal Assistant Minister for Health, Shane Love, MLA Member for Moore, xxx Silver chain, Cr Barni Norton, Cr Michael Aspinall, Shire President of Gingin, Shire of Gingin and Cr David Dow Shire President of Toodyay became too great.
Shane Love MLA said people living in rural communities “often do not have family connections to provide care and transport which can make things difficult as their health deteriorates”.
“There is a heavy reliance in these communities on volunteer services and often this is not factored into the real cost of providing health
and aged care.” “As a regional Senator from NSW, Senator Nash listened keenly and could relate to the concerns raised and she will report back to us on a
