Crookwell Taralga Aged Care (CTAC) in the NSW Southern Tablelands has approached Uniting NSW.ACT to take over its 23-bed Sunset Lodge operation (pictured).
“Our immediate priority, should approvals be gained for the merger, will be to ensure continuity of care for current clients and residents, whilst doing everything we can to re-establish the long term viability and quality of CTAC services,” said Saviour Buhagiar, Uniting NSW.ACT’s Director Ageing.
“While we acknowledge that aged care service provision, especially in regional areas, is challenging, our intention is to grow and innovate services to meet the needs of older people in the Shire well into the future.
“To do this well we need the government, the community and ourselves as a provider, to work together to fully and genuinely implement the recommendations of the Aged Care Royal Commission. Only by collaboratively addressing the systemic challenges in the sector - workforce, funding and governance - will aged care support older people to live their lives to the fullest.”
CTAC director Garry Kadwell told a public meeting at Taralga Community Hall on 8 June that, without a merger, Sunset Lodge would have likely folded before the end of the year due to increased compliance and regulations, calling Uniting NSW.ACT’s actions “a blessing”.
The proposed merger is in accordance with Uniting NSW.ACT’s 10-year strategy, which centres on growing its impact and support of vulnerable individuals and communities, with a focus on people in rural and regional areas.
