The Coalition welcomes Minister Butler’s announcement that the Demonstration Day Respite program will be extended for another two years.
"This is a reflection of Coalition policy and we are pleased that Carers will have some certainty about these centres," said Shadow Minister for Ageing and Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells.
The Demonstration Day Respite pilot was announced by the Howard Government in its 2007-08 budget. It provided $41.2 million over four years to fund a pilot.
"In our 2010 policy the Coalition committed extra funding to support these important centres for another two years. We were concerned that ongoing funding for the centres would have ended on 30 June 2011.
Despite an evaluation which lasted two years (2009-2011) which found that this program was effective in providing a break for Carers and gave them and the people they care for, more confidence about using residential care for either respite or permanent care, it was disappointing to hear back in May 2011 that Rudd-Gillard Government would only be extending the Demonstration Day Respite program for another 12 months to 30 June 2012.
“The Coalition recognises that Carers play an invaluable role in our society, hence our commitment back in 2007.
"The Coalition remains committed to unpaid Carers who carry out a vital role in providing care to people of all ages, especially older Australians,” said Senator Fierravanti-Wells.