There has rarely been a more critical or serious need for the people of Oberon to stand up and voice their opinion.
It has come to light that the proposed aged care facility in Oberon may not come to fruition, due to the fact the Commonwea-lth Government has not allocated any bed licences for the facility.
It is understood that the reason for this decision is Oberon has an insufficient population base to warrant procuring a 60 bed nursing facility.
Federal Member for Macquarie Bob Debus is very unhappy about this decision and has already written to Justine Elliot MP, the Minister for Aging, to voice his frustration at this decision and to reiterate the pressing need for an aged care facility in Oberon.
Mr Debus has also made the following statement to the Oberon Review.
“The decision about assistance for aged care beds is made by the Ageing and Aged Care Division of the Federal Department of Health and Ageing.
“They are required to exercise independent judgement about aged care places and assistance and indeed do so under the supervision of a probity auditor.
“However, when you are considering the situation of Oberon and some other places around Australia that I now know of, you have to be able to do more than tick some boxes.
“You have to be able to take into account particular local circumstances – like the fact that there is a very strong desire among a growing population of elderly people to stay in their home village.
“Therefore I have made very strong representations to the Minister that rules should allow the Department to consider the things that are unique about Oberon.
“I am very hopeful that there will be in consequence more flexible rules applying in the second round of zero real interest loans.
“I can’t hide my disappointment about the situation at present and I certainly won’t be giving up on this matter.
“The irony is not lost on me that agitation on behalf of Oberon has played an important part in the creation of the zero real interest loan scheme in the first place.”
Ian Whalan, Chairman of the Oberon Aged Care Committee, is deeply unhappy about the Government's decision to not allocate beds in Oberon in their first round of allocations, and stresses the critical need for an aged care facility.
“At a personal level, this is the most pressing issue in Oberon at the moment, and unless something happens, it will only get worse,” he said.
“An old person who has to leave our town for care, leaves town to die, and that is the real tragedy.”
Mr Whalan is also distressed about the fact that Oberon has not been given any reasonable reasons for the lack of allocations, and that this recent decision means that Oberon’s immediate need for aged care is even greater with no solution in sight.
Mr Whalan said that it is more important than ever that the people of Oberon attend the Oberon Aged Care Committee meeting .
The meeting is on the 1st of October at the Oberon RSL commencing at 7pm, which Bob Debus will be attending.
“It’s up to the people of Oberon to tell the government ‘It’s not good enough’.”
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