Budget allocation for seniors' interests

5/5/96

The State Government has earmarked $2.384 million for seniors' interests in its 1996-97 Budget.

Seniors Minister Cheryl Edwardes said today that the amount was an increase of more than $300,000 on the portfolio's 1995-96 allocation.

Mrs Edwardes said the money would be used by the Office of Seniors' Interests to undertake research on priority seniors' issues and to further promote positive ageing in the community.

This work will be carried out through a range of projects including:

·       Helping Hands - an initiative in which senior volunteers provide guidance to families in need;

·       the Senior's Card - on ongoing project in which card-holding seniors are entitled to a range of concessions and discounts on State Government and pivate-sector services. These concessions and discounts will continue to be promoted through the Senior's Card Discount Directory.

·       a pilot touch-screen information service is to be launched in three seniors' venues - a project designed to introduce seniors to computers and prevent them from being marginalised in today's 'hot-chip' society; and

·       a bid to host the 1999 Fourth Global Conference of the International Federation on Ageing (IFA) - success in which would enable WA to attract up to 2,000 delegates, including some of the world's leading authorities on ageing, to showcase to the world some of the State's innovative aged-care programs and generate $5 million in delegate expenditure.

The establishment of a Seniors' Ministerial Advisory Committee - a 12-member committee that will advise State Government Ministers on issues that affect Western Australia's over-60s and will ensure greater seniors' input into programs and policies that affect seniors.

Media contact: Diana Russell Coote 421 7777