Building innovative accommodation for people with disability in Kingston
Innovative accommodation for people with disability will be built in Kingston as a result of a $60 million Australian Government initiative.
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers, Senator Jan McLucas, Member for Franklin, Julie Collins and Senator Catryna Bilyk today met with local people with disability, their families and carers who have welcomed news of a new development to be built in Kingston as part of the Supported Accommodation Innovation Fund.
Kingston Uniting Church has been awarded more than $2.8 million by the Gillard Government to deliver the innovative accommodation project.
“Local people with disability, their families and carers need a range of supported accommodation models and these new places will help to meet the need,” Senator McLucas said.
“Kingston Uniting Church has developed an innovative project which will give its residents individualised and personalised support.
It will be built as part of a 30 residence development in Rowallan Park which includes houses, townhouses and units. The Supported Accommodation Innovation Fund will fund the construction of 7 residences for up to 12 people with severe or profound disability.
Ms Collins welcomed the significant investment into the local community.
“This investment will allow people with disability to have better access to supported accommodation to help them live as independently as possible,” Ms Collins said.
“I’m really pleased that more of these options are going to be available for people in Kingston.”
Senator Catryna Bilyk said she took personal pride in seeing the Rowallan Park project come to fruition, having provided support, advice and assistance to the Kingston Uniting Church on the project over the past few years.
“Not only will this project help to provide a more secure future for people with disability in Southern Tasmania, but it will support a number of local construction jobs right here in Kingston,” said Senator Bilyk.
Senator McLucas said the Australian Government wants to see people with disability have access to a range of supported accommodation models that will allow them to participate as valued members of their communities.
“The Gillard Government has announced $1 billion towards the first stage of a National Disability Insurance Scheme which would give people with disability, their families and carers that flexibility and choice to make the solution that suits them,” Senator McLucas said.
“An NDIS will also give certainty to families and many ageing carers who worry about what will happen to their children when they are no longer able to care for them.
The Supported Accommodation Innovation Fund is about encouraging innovation and driving change in the way supported accommodation services are provided.
It builds on the Australian Government’s $100 million capital injection in 2008 to build more than 300 supported accommodation places, which are on track to be delivered this year.