Dan Tehan MP announces $241,000 for Abbeyfield Mortlake

Abbeyfield Mortlake will undergo major upgrades to its commercial kitchen and ambulance bay following $241,000 in capital funding from the Federal Government.

Chairman Mick Murphy OAM said the funding was announced by Member for Wannon Dan Tehan on Friday during his visit to the aged care facility.

“This is a great investment in our long-term future. It is 100 per cent funded by the Federal Government, it’s in the budget and not dependent on the election result,” he said.

“The pleasing things is that it doesn’t require a local contribution from us and that both projects are priorities in our capital works upgrade and replacement program.

“We extremely grateful to Mr Tehan for his ongoing support of Abbeyfield Mortlake.”

Mr Murphy said the funding not only supported Abbeyfield staff and residents but also clients who were serviced in their homes with meals on wheels and the like.

“The kitchen project will include a reconfiguration to improve staff working conditions and meal preparation flow, as well as maintaining necessary food standards well into the future,” he said.

“We’ll also be able to upgrade some equipment which will also contribute to the creation of a commercial kitchen facility that is better for everyone.

“The second project is to reconfigure the ambulance bay because the new ambulances are much taller than the older ones and now don’t fit under.”

Mr Tehan said the funding had been provided under the 2018-19 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR).

He said it would provide a welcome boost to aged care services in Mortlake and was part of the Coalition Government’s record funding and expansion of aged care.

“These capital works will not only lead to bigger and better-aged care services, but they will also support local construction jobs and businesses in and around Mortlake,” he said.

“Improving and expanding local residential facilities and aged care services is fundamental to keeping our communities strong. Our seniors play such a huge role in our rural and regional communities, so it is important that we look after them.”