Published Thursday, 04 June, 1998 at 12:00 AM
Minister for Public Works and Housing
The Honourable Dr. David Watson
Home Assist Secure Program goes Queensland wide
Minister for Public Works and Housing, Dr David Watson, announced today that $7.7 million would be allocated in the coming financial year to aid 30,000 households throughout Queensland.
Previously the scheme covered only 75 percent of the State and was accessed by 22,000 households.
Dr Watson said Home Assist-Secure was a very cost-effective way to help pensioners stay in their own homes longer and alleviate their sense of anxiety about becoming victims of crime.
"Having someone come in and do simple household maintenance like changing a light bulb, putting on a lock or clearing out the gutters can make all the difference to a pensioner's peace of mind," Dr Watson said.
"Sadly, out of fear, some frail-aged and disabled people are virtually barricading themselves inside their homes. This program, however, puts pensioners in touch with caring Queenslanders who can be trusted to carry out minor house improvements and give security advice.
"Our elderly citizens grew up in an era in which it was commonplace to leave doors unlocked and windows unbolted. Extending the hand of friendship to this generation is a major strength of Home Assist-Secure."
Liberal Member for Mount Ommaney, Bob Harper, welcomed the expansion of the program and said it would be a boon for people living in his electorate, centred on Brisbane's south-western suburbs.
Like Dr Watson, whose own electorate of Moggill was previously not covered by Home Assist Secure, he had received many approaches from constituents requesting the service.
"Locals will soon be able to access the wide array of services offered by Home Assist-Secure," Mr Harper said.
"This is sure to be well-received by many elderly and disabled residents and is further evidence of the high priority the Coalition Government places on the provision of services to improve the lot of Queenslanders, particularly those in greatest need."
Not long ago, retirees Eric and Gladys Dallinger, moved from the Wynnum area where Home Assist-Secure is available to Jamboree Heights. The couple are certain the community will embrace the program when it gets under way in the western suburbs.
"It is often difficult for pensioners to know whom to ring when it comes to doing little odd jobs like gardening, trimming trees, minor repairs or things you can no longer do yourself, or afford to do around the house," Mrs Dallinger said.
"That's why Home Assist-Secure is such a good idea: You can speak to somebody who cares, who you can trust and who will do a good job."
Dr Watson said everyone had a right to feel safe and secure in their own home.
"With this in mind, Home Assist-Secure specifically targets those aged 60 years and over, and people with a disability, who are home owners or live in private rental housing," he said.
"Through this scheme, selected local community organisations or local authorities provide free information, advice and subsidised assistance on home repairs, minor maintenance, minor modifications and security."
Currently there are 36 Home Assist-Secure Project offices across the State.
To be eligible for subsidised assistance for work in the home, applicants must be in receipt of a Commonwealth Government pension or part-pension; be a resident in an area serviced by a Home Assist-Secure Project; and be unable to make use of alternative forms of assistance, such as family or friends, or other Government programs, for example, Home and Community Care (HACC) or Department of Veterans' Affairs.
When work is commissioned by Home Assist-Secure clients, they meet the cost of the materials and the program subsidises other costs up to a maximum of $200 for any single task and $400 in total per household annually.
In 1997-98, with a budget of $5.232 million, the program aimed to assist 19,000 households but actually helped 22,000.
The 1998-99 budget allocation tops this figure up by $2.468 million, enabling it expand to all parts of the State and to help an estimated 30,000 households by July next year.
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