In total, 405 residents from 10 aged care homes were safely evacuated in New South Wales, according to Minister for Aged Care Senator Richard Colbeck’s office.
Another 73 people were evacuated from three multi-purpose services, while 15 people had to leave a retirement village.
In Victoria, aged care workers evacuated about 260 people, including 174 from four multi-purpose services and 81 from an aged care facility.
Bupa turned out to be one of the ‘quiet’ heroes of the fires, with its staff safely evacuating around 200 residents from its aged care homes in Eden on the NSW South Coast, Tumut in the NSW Riverina and Eastwood/Bairnsdale in East Gippsland, Victoria to its other homes and alternative accommodation.
They have all since returned, along with 162 aged care and 15 retirement village residents from another six aged care homes in the NSW South Coast towns of Dalmeny, Tura Beach, Warrowing Heights, and Pambula.
The Minister acknowledged the dedication of aged care staff this week while visiting the worst-hit regions on the South Coast (pictured above and inset).
“Some stood outside holding hoses as the fire front moved through,” he wrote on Facebook. “Others helped manage the movement of residents, organised food or simply sat and talked to care recipients to ease their anxiety.”
The Minister says the Government is meeting with aged care providers – like IRT – and assessment teams and knows facilities are under the pump.
“I am very aware of the challenges facing some providers and the government will continue to work with them to ensure residents receive appropriate care not only during a crisis but in the days, weeks and months following,” he said.
See the next story for the Government’s response.
