The
Issues
Before we start …
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The issues elicited on Thursday 14th Nov 2024 at the Gummun Place Information Session are set out below and summarised in the boxes on the right.
- Council is looking to exit the management of Gummun Place Hostel.
- Gummun Place Hostel is not self-funded. The income received is less than the cost to run it – to the tune of around $400,000 a year on average (with some years being more and some less).
- While Gummun Place Hostel is operating at a loss, it does not carry any debt (there is no money owing on the facility).
- Recently there have been new (more demanding and more complex) regulatory requirements placed on facilities such as Gummun Place Hostel by the Federal Government. These requirements must be met in order to retain/obtain accreditation.
- The additional Government regulatory requirements and have added to the cost of running the facility.
- Government funding has not kept pace with the increased operational costs/demands placed on facilities such as Gummun Place Hostel.
- It is possible other organisations are better equipped to run a facility such as Gummun Place Hostel – particularly in the light of the increased requirements for accreditation.
- Costs to run Gummun Place have been provided but there is little visibility for the community in the breakdown of those costs (costs are not shown at “line-item” level).
- Obtaining qualified staff is a major issue within the aged care sector. Trained aged care workers and registered nurses are in very short supply and recruitment issues are compounded by the fact that we are a regional area.
- Accommodation is a major issue with Merriwa’s housing – housing once available to professionals such as teachers, nurses and doctors – having been sold off.
- The previous Gummun Place Hostel s355 advisory committee was disbanded when Council elections were held (this is standard practise for such committees). On Monday 25 November 2024 at the Council meeting, the Council resolved to reform an advisory committee but it would not be an s355 committee.
Council is looking to exit the management of Gammon Place.
Gummun Place is not self-funding (each year, income is less than expenditure).
New regulatory requirements set by the Federal Government have increased running costs and complexity.
Government funding has not kept place with the increased operational demands.
A detailed breakdown of financial costs has not been provided by Council.
Other organisations may be better placed to run Gammon Place given the increased regulatory requirements.
The aged care industry has a major shortage of qualitifed staff.
Housing stock in Merriwa is a major issue (previously held for doctors, nurses, teachers. etc. is no longer available).