Nanango residents with a disability and their elderly carers will have access to more innovative living arrangements through the second funding round of the Elderly Parent Carer Innovation Trial.
Disability Services Minister Tracy Davis said South Burnett CTC would receive $488,000 to provide sustainable housing for adults with a disability and their elderly parent carers in Nanango.
“We recognised that Labor left a legacy of significant unmet need of long-term housing for adults with a disability and their carers in Nanango,” Ms Davis said.
"Our government has a strong plan for a brighter future and we are preparing Queenslanders with a disability, their families, and their carers to transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
"We are delivering on our promise to revitalise frontline services for families and this trial aims to provide a wider range of accommodation options for adults with disability who have parents aged over 60 years.
“In the second round of this $15 million three-year trial, three organisations will share in more than $2.4 million to create an additional 22 accommodation places for adults with a disability.”
Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said South Burnett CTC would use the funding to construct accommodation units for residents with and without disabilities.
“This is welcome news for Nanango elderly parent carers who can rest easier knowing that projects like this will help provide accommodation solutions to their loved ones,” Ms Frecklington said.
“Our government is committed to supporting South Burnett residents with a disability ahead of the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme, by improving access and participation in the community.
“The $488,000 received by South Burnett CTC, will be used to construct six, two-bedroom units in a three duplex configuration in Nanango.
“The tenants will include elderly parent carers, adults with a disability and people who are willing to be good neighbours to the tenants with a disability.”
The South Burnett CTC received land for the project as part of the Government Land for Accommodation and Support Services program.
South Burnett CTC Chief Executive Officer, Christine Temperton said the financial assistance the Elderly Parent Carer Innovation Trial provides will enable them to achieve a 33 per cent better first stage of their ‘Good Neighbour’ housing for people with a disability project.
“Thanks to this funding we will be able to build three duplexes instead of two,” Ms Temperton said.
“It will also assist us to establish the infrastructure needed to support the next stages of our project.
“In the immediate future, the lives of at least six people with a disability and their families will be made so much better, through genuine collaboration between community organisations and the state government.”
Life Without Barriers and Wesley Mission Brisbane would also receive funding to construct innovative disability accommodation in Townsville and Everton respectively.
For more information about disability supports and services, including the Elderly Parent Carer Innovation trial, visit www.disability.qld.gov.au
