The National Meals on Wheels conference hits Brisbane today, bringing together federal and state politicians, medical professionals, and branch members from across Australia.
Disability Services Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said the conference would discuss ways to improve Meals on Wheels services.
“Meals on Wheels is one of the best known and loved community-based initiatives in Australia,” Minister Palaszczuk said.
“It delivers an essential service to people with a disability, and Queenslanders value the tremendous work its volunteers do every day.
“Meals on Wheels staff and volunteers are extremely selfless individuals – they sacrifice their own time to improve the lives of tens of thousands of Australians everyday.
“They’re helping people with the basic necessities of life and enabling them to maintain their independence and stay living in their chosen community.”
Minister Palaszczuk said the conference would play an important role in giving Meals on Wheels branches opportunities to learn from the situations and challenges faced by other branches.
“Queensland is the most decentralised state in Australia and volunteers deliver more than 10,000 healthy and balanced meals to Queenslanders everyday,” she said.
“The conference will give branches, from across the country and Queensland, a chance to share information and look for answers to some of the challenges they’re facing.”
Topics and workshops will include: using technology to engage volunteers, kosher meals, nutrition, business management and development and rehabilitation.
Meals on Wheels is part of the wider Home and Community Care (HACC) program which is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments.
Minister Palaszczuk said the HACC initiative provided essential support services to frail, aged and younger people with a disability and their carers.
“In 2009-10, the Australian and Queensland Governments have provided a budget of $429.2 million for the ongoing delivery of the HACC program; shared by more than 380 organisations,” she said.
“This represents an increase of $44.8 million over the 2008-09 budget.
“In Queensland funding of more than $5 million is allocated to 147 Meals on Wheels branches allowing the delivery of more than 2 million meals every year.”
Media contact: Martin Philip 3237 1944 or 0488 741 689
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