General News
2 August, 2023
Group to fight for Terang’s aged care future
A NEW steering group has been formed to help bring a vision for the future of aged care in Terang to fruition.
A NEW steering group has been formed to help bring a vision for the future of aged care in Terang to fruition.
The working group will be chaired by former Corangamite Shire mayor Chris O’Connor, and includes Dr Tim Fitzpatrick, Eve Black, Murray Whiting, Des McKinnon, Ken McSween and Corangamite Shire councillor Geraldine Conheady.
Mr O’Connor said the group has engaged in early discussion with local aged care providers over the past few weeks to assess potential options in how aged care could be delivered in Terang, making sure “every door is open”.
“Our goal is to explore all possible opportunities to ensure Terang has access to high end health care,” he said.
“We’ve identified two potential avenues; either working through the State Government, or working towards a new purpose-built, Commonwealth funded facility which could be operated by an approved provider.
“Our goal is to get a current provider to help in both advocating for and running a new aged care facility, but there is obviously a lot of work which needs to go in to it.
“The challenge will be finding a provider, but our preference is for an existing provider within the region who could work with us and council to help bring the vision to life.”
In addition, the new steering group has begun compiling research which includes all relevant data and figures to prove there is a viable business model for aged care in Terang.
“The data will give us an overview of the current needs and demands of both the region as a whole and Terang when it comes to the need for high-end aged care,” Mr O’Connor said.
“Our goal is to both justify the need, and build a solid business case which cannot be overlooked.”
Mr O’Connor said the group had also approached Lyndoch Living to play its own role in supporting the Terang community.
“With the closure of May Noonan, Lyndoch Living left us with a bit of a vacuum,” he said.
“We would like to see Lyndoch Living be willing to help fund our efforts, and we’ve requested a meeting with Lyndoch Living to discuss our options.
“We would like to see either part of the proceeds of sale being directed to supporting the future funding, or to consult on the process of the sale.”
Mrs Black said she had been repeating a mantra since being among the hundreds to attend the community meeting on the future of aged care in Terang last month: “Aged care: who cares? We care!”
“Even though I might not need aged care today, I might need it tomorrow,” she said.
“You never know.
“We have not only lost a vital aged care option, but we also no longer have respite beds, and that’s something which is really needed.”
Dr Fitzpatrick said he was inspired to join the steering group not only due his medical knowledge of how vital such a service was, but also his understanding of how tight-knit the community was.
“Some people have been in this community their entire lives, and having to get shunted off somewhere else where they’re just a stranger in town is an issue,” he said.
“It’s really sad to think people are having to move away from their families.”
As Western District Newspapers has previously reported, the current site for May Noonan was believed to no-longer be an appropriate site for aged care in Terang’s future.
“We don’t want to get hung up on the former site,” Mr O’Connor said.
“We understand the building is at a point of deterioration and is quickly becoming untenable.
“That site is done and dusted when it comes to the needs of our community in the future, but there are a range of sites which could be explored.
“There is a lot of water which needs to go under the bridge, but we’re paddling hard beneath the surface."
