Frontier Services Dementia & Frail Aged Pilot Program

The project is aimed at meeting the needs for community based respite services for carers of people with dementia or frail aged in rural and remote communities. The intention is that funds are used to provide support to carers in their own homes and communities, rather than in centre or town based settings.

This program has provisions to identify and train two Indigenous workers on a community to provide respite for carers of people with dementia or who are frail aged. These Indigenous workers are trained and supported by an Outreach Worker employed through the funded program.The Indigenous workers would also provide an information, support and referral service for carers on their community and would be a source of advice and reference for the development of further Indigenous respite service initiatives. Currently there are three identified communities.

Indigenous carers are employed for a set time of 10 hours per week as Frontier Services employees to provide respite to carers within the communities.

Current Communities

Currently Communities involved are: Ampilatwatja, Ali Curung and Hermannsburg.

Ampilatwatja

This project has been re-established in this community. Current coordinator of the Aged Care unit is a local Indigenous worker who is supportive of the program and is confident that with our support this will work through that centre. Frontier Services is in negotiation with this coordinator to identify and commence training of suitable workers.

Ali Curung

The current coordinator of Ali Curung is a local Indigenous lady and meetings to date have been promising. There is a respite house at the community and great effort is being made to have this unit fully functional and community supported. The program is currently assisting with the cost of an Agency Carer who is staying in the house whilst providing care and support to the coordinator and clients.

Hermannsburg

Under the program, there are currently two local Indigenous workers, one male and one female performing 10 hours paid care work within the local aged care facility. It is proposed that on successful completion of a trial period, these workers can be employed on a more permanent basis through the program. Early signs are that these workers will successfully transfer to the local aged care facility long term.

More Communities

There is still scope to identify more communities where the Dementia and Frail Aged Program could have positive influence and support carers within the community.

An Australian Government Initiative.

For more information:

Free Ph: 1800 200 422

(calls from mobile phones are charged at applicable rates).

Project Officer

Dementia and Frail Aged Program

Frontier Services Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre