Over 2000 to benefit from Warrigal Care’s Wollongong Proposal
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- Created on Wednesday, 24 July 2013 14:33
Whilst debate rages about how best to spend the Restart NSW $100 million Illawarra infrastructure funds available from the long term lease of Port Kembla, one little organisation has a plan that could be the best of all.
Warrigal Care’s proposed aged care home and community service hub in Wollongong’s CBD would provide 140 permanent long term jobs and provide a place to live for 120 members of our older community. It is DA ready, bed ready, has guaranteed federal funding to pay the job salaries and will continue to benefit the region for 40 years.
“We’re in a position to bring a140 additional real jobs to Wollongong that will be here for the next 40 years at least,” says Warrigal Care CEO Mark Sewell. “As well as the short term jobs boost that will occur during the construction phase.”
“The 40 year commitment that we’re ready to make in Wollongong will especially benefit the Wollongong’s older community by providing care for over 2,000 people in that period.”
Warrigal Care have been providing care for the region’s older people for 45 years, and as a local community owned organisation have always worked hard to see this area prosper. By receiving the funding to build the aged care home and community services hub located on the corner of Beach and Corrimal Streets, Wollongong would benefit from the creation of 28 clinical jobs, 112 care service jobs and approximately 80 other roles in support of the provision of care including cooks and cleaners and handymen.
There is broad community backing for Warrigal Care’s proposal , with UOW, Illawarra Shoalhaven Medicare Local (ISML) and KPMG all offering their support for the worlds best practice aged care service.
“Given that the Health and Community Services sector is now the largest employer in Australia and projected to continue to grow in the coming years, I believe the prioritisation of expenditure of the Restart NSW Illawarra Infrastructure Fund on large human service infrastructure projects such as these will have the greatest impact for the region.” ISML Chair Dr Vicki McCartney has said.
The $20million investment that Warrigal Care are seeking will bring a $430million economic benefit to Wollongong, a massive return on investment over a 40 year period. A small investment for sustainable jobs and desperately needed local accommodation and care services for our older people, who deserve the best.