Marles and Coker commit to Anam Cara House upgrades

THE new home of Anam Cara House Geelong will get even better under an Albanese Labor Government, with Labor pledging $2.95 million towards upgrades.

Stage one of the facility is now under construction on the grounds of Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus, and Corangamite Labor federal member Libby Coker and Corio Labor federal member Richard Marles visited the site on Monday this week to make the joint election commitment.

Labor’s funding will cover several upgrades to the facility:

• An agreement with Deakin University that includes a Research and Teaching Partnership with Deakin’s School of Medicine and Faculty of Health. This will allow on-site teaching and upskilling for the care sector
• Maintaining and securing the facility’s power supply
• Enriching the guest experience with world-class sensory technology as part of end-of-life care
• Purchasing and converting a specialised bus, which will allow guests to undertake end-of-life day trips to places of their choosing, and
• Formalising a volunteer program to attract, upskill and retain volunteers to assist in the delivery of services.

Anam Cara House provides support and care in a home-like environment that bridges the gap between hospital-based palliative facilities and home palliative care options.

The new Anam Cara House – which will replace the organisation’s existing four-bedroom building in Belmont – consists of 20 palliative and end-of-life care bedrooms within a purpose-built facility and is expected to open later this year.

It will accommodate a range of hospice services and end-of-life palliative care choices for people with life-limiting illnesses and the people who care for them.

“There is no other facility like Anam Cara in Australia,” Ms Coker said.

“The new Anam Cara House is a unique facility that will continue the legacy of providing local families with palliative care choices and world-class end-of-life care.”

Mr Marles said the work and care that Anam Cara provided to families was invaluable.

“This is a project which Labor proudly supports and understands the importance of giving guests choice and final wishes.”