Mr Salonga is a participant in the current social inclusion programs provided by Port Phillip. Backed by signatures from 34 other participants, he fronted up to make sure councillors knew what was at stake.
‘What has social inclusion program done for us? It improves our physical fitness.
‘My wife used to use a walking stick before we joined the program. She’s no longer using the walking stick now.
‘It has reduced our loneliness and isolation. We became friends with other participants and staff who are kind and caring. We felt a greater level of community connection and cohesion. We felt that we belong.
‘If Port Phillip steps back or withdraws from the social inclusion program, no specialist aged care provider can deliver the same as the current one.
‘Social inclusion is a core service, not discretionary. Council’s own plan identifies isolation as a high-risk issue.
‘Therefore, cutting this funding would directly contradict the 2025-35 Council Plan, the Healthy Connected Community Strategy and the funded initiatives for 2026.
‘Honourable members of this Council, most of you are young, but one day you will get old and retired.
‘You will feel aches and pains especially in the morning. When you do, then you can ask yourself, “Have I done enough to age positively in the city of Port Phillip?”
No decision yet made
Council officers told the meeting that no final decision had been made.
The senior council officer said the service is a Commonwealth-funded program that Council is contracted to deliver. If Council decides to relinquish this service back to the Commonwealth, Canberra would appoint and fund a panel of providers to meet social connection needs, and that would occur in a similar way as the transition to other council-funded aged care services by the Commonwealth that occurred a few years ago.
The officer also said the proposal being discussed would see Council increase its direct investment in Council-funded aged care services by around $100,000 per annum, bringing Council’s investment to around $465,000 per annum.
This included creating a new positive ageing unit to bring together all Council services and supports for older people into one dedicated area of Council, including Seniors Month activities. It also included Council’s community connector service, hop-on, hop-off bus service and an expanded Linking Neighbours program.
‘If the proposal was to go ahead, it would also enable those older members of the Port Phillip community who fall outside of the current Commonwealth eligibility criteria to participate in activities,’ she said.
MMmmm. Who do you trust to look out for seniors? Council, Canberra or a corporatised aged care provider?
Watch this space.
