By some estimates, more than 65 per cent of Australians belong to a community or not-for-profit organisation. They provide a way for people to engage with their local community, to ‘give back’ or to work for the common good.

 

Villa Maria is a large community organisation by any measure.  The capacity to deliver all the services we do is only possible through the combined energy and commitment of our staff and volunteers and our community supporters.   Each day, we see evidence of how we successfully work together to achieve great outcomes for the people and families we support.  Whether it is facilitating ways for people to pursue their goals through events like ‘Dreams Day’, or developing new ways of providing care and service like Austin Street, each of us plays an important role.

 

Through Villa Maria’s work, and that of many other like-minded organisations and people, we are helping to build stronger communities. So what makes a stronger community? According to Curtain University of Technology’s Research Centre for Stronger Communities:

·         Stronger communities invest in community capacity to solve community problems, to grasp opportunities, and to develop community leadership.

·         Stronger communities include a wide variety of businesses, industries and institutes that are financially viable, flexible, ethical and committed to diversity.

·         Stronger communities utilise and retain capital, value sharing resources and encourage all stakeholders to work together for a sustainable future; and

·         Stronger communities celebrate and support inclusion and diversity.

There is however a significant barrier to achieving stronger communities and one that all involved in the aged care and disability services sectors come up against time and time again: the continued lack of access to adequate government funding to deliver the services our community wants and needs.

No matter how well an organisation manages its resources, fundraises or delivers its services, it cannot build a sustainable future or a stronger community in the face of fundamental problems in the way aged care and disability services are structured and funded.

It is sobering to note that nationally, only 40 per cent of aged care homes are operating in the black. The remaining 60 per cent are surviving by eating into reserves and this puts pressure on their ability to deliver the services the community and government expect.

 

Governments must recognise the real costs associated with providing aged care and disability services and accommodation. At the very least, Government funding needs to be indexed to account for the increasing costs associated with the workforce and daily expenses such as food, transport and energy.

 

For years the aged care and disability services sectors have been advocating for change, but in the lead up to the 2010 state and federal elections, we have significantly increased the pressure.  We must make our voices heard.

In the last issue of Villa News I asked for your active support to help us bring about change. No matter what party is in government, it is up to us as members of our communities to act as the voices for the people who are part of our services. The rights of the individual, regardless of age or ability, are paramount. I again call on you to voice your opinion and raise these issues and join our industry campaigns:

Aged & Community Services Australia – “Can’t do it without you” and “kevin87”: www.agedcare.org.au

The Campaign for Care of Older Australians Group: www.thegrandplan.com.au

National Disability Insurance Scheme: www.ndis.org.au

National Disability Services Victoria – “A Fair Go for All”: www.nds.org.au

As Ghandi said: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.” Thank you for your continued support – together we can build stronger communities.