The State Government has been called on to help families in need after Noweyung announced its intention to build an adult respite facility in Bairnsdale.

Member for Gippsland East and Shadow Minister for Disability, Tim Bull, used his time in State Parliament last week to request support funding for respite staff.

Mr Bull paid tribute to Noweyung, which has announced its intention to develop a facility-based respite service at its own cost for the capital works.

“In recent years we have achieved much in the area of disability with the All Abilities Playground, new supported accommodation options at Noweyung, the Cells Café with disability employment and Noweyung having a presence at the Bairnsdale Hub (old secondary college in Dalmahoy Street) and this was all achieved with a level of support from the previous State Government,” Mr Bull said.

“Across the East Gippsland Shire we have a huge need for a local respite facility for people with special needs and their families and I would hope this government would see fit to offer a level of support.

“Currently families in East Gippsland seeking respite have a number of options, none of which are ideal. They either pay a high daily fee for in-home respite services, or the alternative is that they need to travel considerable distances to the nearest facilities, which are located in Sale at the Latrobe Valley. Either this, or they just do not receive respite at all.

“It is badly needed in East Gippsland – we do not have a respite facility in the entire electorate of 27,000 square kilometres. So I certainly encourage the Minister to look at funding some of the recurrent hours,” he said.

Noweyung Chief Executive Officer, Ernie Metcalf, said families had complained to him about the lack of a suitable respite facility located in East Gippsland.

“Current disability growth statistics indicate this need will only continue to increase within the region,” he said.

“Noweyung is prepared to develop a facility at our cost if the State Government will provide recurrent funding based on a number of respite hours per annum for the respite facility service we are proposing, as they have done in other areas of Gippsland.

“Such a facility would be greatly appreciated by families and carers in East Gippsland,” Mr Metcalf said.

Caption: Member for Gippsland East and Shadow Minister for Disability, Tim Bull, with Ernie Metcalf, CEO of Noweyung, which intends to build a respite facility in Bairnsdale.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016