Buloke Shire Council in Wycheproof, 276km northwest of Melbourne, has announced the Federal Government has appointed four well-known service providers to deliver support services for the Buloke Local Government Area.

The services have been divided into four regions, due to the fact that Buloke covers 8,000 kmsq.

East Wimmera Health Service will deliver client services in the South West (the towns of Donald, Watchem and surrounds) and Central areas (Birchip, Nullawil and surrounds).

Inglewood and District Health Service will deliver services in the South East (Charlton, Wycheproof and surrounds) and Central areas.

Annecto will deliver client services in the Northern (Berriwillock, Culgoa, Nandaly, Sea Lake and surrounds) and Central areas.

And Mallee Track Community Health has been appointed to provide the meals service for the Northern area.

Mayor, Cr Alan Getley welcomed the news. “The organisations are trusted, with existing established links with our communities. Buloke is a large geographical area, so to have the reassurance of several providers to offer services into the future is tremendous.”

The Council will transition the services to the new providers by 1 January 2024.

From 1 July 2025, the CHSP, the Home Care Packages Program and Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) Programme will merge into the new Government run In-Home Aged Care program. The new model will mean home care providers have to expand their range of services, which is posing a challenge to Victorian councils in terms of governance, compliance, and financial implications.

The SOURCE: In June, we reported that Buloke Shire would stop providing home care services, along with 10 other regional Victorian councils.