Older Victorians and their families will be able to access more than 6,500 new aged care places over the next three years, the Minister for Ageing, Julie Bishop, announced today during an address to the Aged Care Association of Victoria 2004 State Congress in Melbourne.

Ms Bishop said the Australian Government would provide more than $182 million for the 6,555 new aged care places, which will provide essential care for older Victorians at home or living in aged care homes in their local community.

The funding is part of the Australian Government's $2.2 billion Budget package, Investing in Australia's Aged Care: More Places, Better Care.
Ms Bishop said next financial year the Australian Government would provide $102.85 million for 3,475 new aged care places in Victoria, including 2,720 residential places, 530 Community Aged Care Packages, which provide low level care at home, and 225 Extended Aged Care at Home packages, which provide high level care at home.

"Aged care homes in Victoria will also receive more than $128 million in a one-off funding allocation to enable them to upgrade their buildings and help ensure older Victorians are being cared for in comfortable and safe aged care homes," she said.

"As well as providing new residential aged care places, the Australian Government is doubling community care places to meet the desire of older Australians who want to remain in their own homes as they grow older.

"The increased places reflect the Australian Government's decision to raise the aged care provision ratio from 100 to 108 aged care places for every 1000 people aged 70 or over. This is the first increase in the aged care provision ratio since it was introduced in 1985," Ms Bishop said.

The new allocation will include up to 2,000 places over three years across Australia to assist older people make the transition to aged care following a hospital stay.