Federal Member for Grayndler, Anthony Albanese MP and Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot today announced one-off funding grants worth more than $94,000 to fund the Ethnic Child Care, Family & Community Services Co-Op of Marrickville; the Polish-Australian Welfare Association at Ashfield; and Wesley Mission in Summer Hill.

Mr Albanese stated “I am delighted that the Rudd Government is funding these important local organisations that deliver vital services for people in our community.”

“This funding will help deliver respite services to carers and to purchase or replace furniture and equipment.”

“These services will be able to improve their quality of service to meet the needs of individual carers and the people they care for.

The Ethnic Child Care & Community Co-Op will use the funds to translate and inform up to eight local ethnic communities of their services and projects that are underway. The Polish-Australian Welfare Association will see the funds go towards developing multimedia information guides to assist the local Polish community. Wesley Mission will utilise the grant to provide palliative care staff, a respite co-ordinator and provide for the upgrade of equipment.

The $94,268 is part of $6.8 million in one-off funding – It is funded under the Australian Government’s commitment to carers through the National Respite for Carers Program.

Community-based respite services are funded to provide respite opportunities in a variety of settings, such as:

• Day care centres which provide respite for a half or full day;


• In-home respite services, including overnight care and personal care services;


• Activity programs;


• Respite for carers of people with dementia and challenging behaviour; and


• Flexible respite in community settings.

“This is about helping those at the community level,” the Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot said.

“These one-off grants will improve and support respite services for carers in Marrickville, Ashfield and Summer Hill to cover costs such as minor building modifications and projects or to purchase or replace equipment and furniture,” Mrs Elliot said.

“The Rudd Government is committed to improving respite services around the country in response to the needs of our ageing population and their carers."