Fair Trading funds aged care supported accommodation service

$1,245,300 to retirement villages, nursing homes, hostels, boarding houses
NSW Fair Trading Commissioner Rod Stowe said investment in education, advocacy and information services for residents in retirement villages, nursing homes, hostels and boarding houses would remain a priority for NSW Fair Trading.
Commissioner Stowe today announced $1,245,300 funding from Fair Trading for the 2013 – 2016 Aged Care Supported Accommodation Service. He said helping older people and prospective residents of supported accommodation to understand their rights and responsibilities under the Retirement Villages Act 1999 and the Residential Tenancies Act 2010and associated regulations and other relevant laws was critical work for government.
“We’ve just celebrated Seniors Week so this funding announcement is timely and important government business.
“This funding supports three full time equivalent jobs. It gives seniors telephone and face to face information and advice, information materials and advocacy and help with preparation of materials for and representation at the Consumer, Trader & Tenancy Tribunal.
“Most importantly, it has a focus on supporting low income, high risk and special needs populations including pensioners, Aboriginals, Torres Strait Islanders, residents from non-English speaking backgrounds and older people in supported accommodation with physical, intellectual, sensory and psychiatric disabilities.”
Last year the service reached more than 23,000 people in education sessions and more than 400 people in retirement villages had been provided with legal advice, as well as another 2,200 people provided with general legal advice.
It provided services to nearly 2,400 people on issues relating to supported accommodation including their transitioning to such services.
The service helps people living in retirement villages who are in dispute with their operators, as well as people living in nursing homes, hostels, boarding houses and other aged care facilities.
Funding will be provided for three years commencing 1 July 2013.
Application packages and information on how to apply is available online at Fair Trading website or by contacting Community & Industry Grants, NSW Fair Trading on 02 9619 8731 or email to: grants@services.nsw.gov.au
Applications close 5pm Friday 3 May 2013.