ALISON BYRNES MP
MEMBER FOR CUNNINGHAM

CR TANIA BROWN
LABOR CANDIDATE FOR LORD MAYOR
WOLLONGONG CITY COUNCIL

Member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes MP, has called on all candidates for the upcoming local government elections to commit to review local planning controls to end the local planning aged care bed block.

And one candidate has already signed on - Labor Candidate for Lord Mayor of Wollongong, Cr Tania Brown who has pledged her support.

Over the last decade more than 600 aged care beds have been lost across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD) operating area.

This has left an aged care bed deficit of around 900 beds, as confirmed by the Department of Health and Aged Care.

During this winter season, the number of patients in Illawarra Shoalhaven hospitals awaiting placement into an aged care facility peaked at 156 patients per night.

This contributes to a block of about 20 per cent of the District’s available bed stock, preventing admission of nearly 10,000 additional patients.

Over the last five years in the Wollongong Local Government Area, there have only been three planning approvals granted in aged care, with only one application looking to provide additional beds.

With around 14 per cent of Wollongong’s population aged 70 years or over – higher than the NSW and national average – it is essential that investments in suitable accommodation for people as they age is supported and encouraged.

Quotes attributable to the Member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes:

“It’s a well-known fact that we have an ageing population in the region and many of our older residents are stuck in unsuitable hospital accommodation when they should be being cared for in aged care facilities.

“It is well-known that lengthy hospital stays for older people can make them sicker rather than better.

“We’ve had a lot of discussion about tourism at a local government level, which is important, but very little discussion has taken place about where and how we build new aged care facilities.

“I am calling on all candidates – regardless of party or political affiliation - to join with me and commit to fixing the local planning rules that are stopping more aged care accommodation being approved and built.

“This will back in the efforts that both the Albanese Federal Government and Minns State Government are doing to make sure our aged care system is fit for purpose for our older residents.”

Quotes attributable to Labor Candidate for Lord Mayor, Cr Tania Brown:

“We need to address accommodation shortages in all areas – in housing, in tourism but importantly for our older population.

“Suitable aged care accommodation backs in the work of other levels of government to provide more suitable care and it will also help to free up larger family homes for younger families.

“I am more than willing to put in the effort to boost our care economy by attracting more investment and helping to facilitate it in the same way I am working to attract more tourist accommodation – it’s the right thing to do and the best way that a future Wollongong Council can help.”

Quotes attributable to Council of Elders Representative & OPAN Advocate, Val Fell:

“Local government must realise that people wishing to build or buy their homes in the Illawarra area will soon start to have second thoughts about their future.

“If they know they will have to move out of the area to obtain aged care, they may decide to go elsewhere for their younger years. There are people considering moving right now so they can be close to their elderly parents in aged care residential facilities – we must think of the future and plan for it now.

“At present if you are elderly and fall ill, you could wait hours in the emergency department for an available bed, then be transferred somewhere else whilst you await placement. The clinical care you receive may be great but if you have dementia, you could lack the stimulus you need to keep going.”

The Albanese and Minns Labor Governments have already provided considerable additional support for aged care in the region, including:

• Jointly funded 35 new Transition Care Places through to June 2025 to assist with transitioning older people out of hospital and into residential aged care homes.
• Introduced the NSW Health Aged Care Outreach Service, consisting of a special flying squad of doctors, nurses and specialists to visit aged care homes across the Illawarra.
• Funded the Acute to Residential Care Transition Service program run by Dementia Support Australia to support people living with dementia and their families to transition from hospital to residential care.
• Supported an 8-place Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP) Unit at Hammondcare Horsley.
• Opened the Wollongong Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Corrimal to provide urgent care and avoid unnecessary hospital presentations.
• Secured $16.5 million in federal funding through the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program for the Illawarra Retirement Trust (IRT) to open over 40 additional beds.

Ms Byrnes and Cr Brown said that it was now time for our region’s local government to
come to the table and help address this crisis in a sustainable and effective manner.