Darren Chester MP

MULTI-MILLION AGED CARE UPGRADE TO OPEN

Feburary 2, 2012

A multi-million dollar upgrade at Yallambee Aged Care Services in Traralgon will be officially opened tomorrow.

The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the Federal Government had committed $2 million toward new rooms for 16 aged care beds to replace the old and unsuitable building.

Stage one of the project, which is new rooms for 10 dementia beds, will be officially opened tomorrow, February 3, 2012.

Mr Chester congratulated the Board and staff of Yallambee for their commitment to providing the best possible care.

“Yallambee Aged Care Services has contributed more than $1 million of its own funds toward this redevelopment, which is an outstanding commitment to improving the care of residents,” Mr Chester said.

“Staff at Yallambee do a great job, but they have been operating in difficult conditions for a number of years,” Said Mr Chester

“It’s an exciting time for staff and residents to finally be able to enjoy the modern new rooms.”

Mr Chester said it was always pleasing to see local builders employed for major projects.

“I commend the board for choosing to utilise the skills of local company BFN Developments,” he said.

“Supporting local tradesmen means this money stays in our community and creates more job opportunities for our young people.

“I’m sure anyone who visits Yallambee will agree Brett Neilson and his staff have done a fantastic job and this project is a credit to all involved.”

Yallambee Chief Executive Officer Ros Hunter said further building works were currently underway and new rooms for another six beds would be opened by May this year.

“We have undertaken a large building project to see the amenities updated and we are delighted to be able to enjoy the first stage of that,” Ms Hunter said.

“We are still working on improving other resident areas, and upgrading the Café which will be open to residents families and the General Public in due course.”

Yallambee was also allocated an additional 24 high care places in January as part of the Federal Government’s latest Aged Care Approvals Round.