New $650,000 community care centre to be built near Woodvale Shopping Centre

26/3/98

Older people living in Perth's northern suburbs will soon benefit from a new $650,000 community care centre, Health Minister Kevin Prince announced today.

The facility, to be built near the Woodvale Shopping Centre, will be funded by the Lotteries Commission of Western Australia, the City of Wanneroo and the State Government.

Mr Prince today presented the Lotteries Commission's contribution of $160,000 to Cam Ansell, the chairman of commissioners at the City of Wanneroo.

The Minister said steady growth in the number of people aged over 60 years living in suburbs, including Kingsley, Woodvale, Craigie, Edgewater, Beldon and Padbury, now warranted a purpose-built centre in the area.

"The number of people aged 60 years and over living in this area has grown by 38 per cent to almost 6,000 in the last five years," Mr Prince said.

"There has been a 62 per cent increase in the 70-plus age group over the same period so the time has come for a facility for that age group to visit and enjoy."

The centre, which will be finished later this year, will include:

+ day centre activities for 75 frail aged and disabled residents;

+ podiatry and hairdressing facilities;

+ office space;

+ accommodation for seniors' groups in the area; and -

+ a base for the regional branch of the Returned Services League (RSL).

The Health Department of WA Home and Community Care Program will contribute $206,000 and the City of Wanneroo $284,000 towards the construction of the new centre.

Mr Prince said the completed project would be a significant boost to senior citizens' services in the northern suburbs.

Media contact: Kirsten Stoney 9221 1377