❓ Ms McGurk questions the Minister for Community Services regarding the alleged discontinuation of Christmas vouchers for grandcarers by Wanslea Family Services, prompting the Minister to commit to investigating the matter. The Minister praises the grandcarers support scheme and Wanslea's administration, but admits a lack of specific knowledge about voucher distribution.
AnsweredQoN 986Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
WANSLEA FAMILY SERVICES — GRANDCARERS
SUPPORT SCHEME
986. Ms S.F. McGURK to the
Minister for Community Services:
I refer to the grandcarers support scheme administered by Wanslea
Family Services in conjunction with the Department for Communities. Last year,
Wanslea organised for grandcarers to receive a $50 Coles voucher to assist them
with extra costs at this time of year to put something special on the table at
Christmas. Can the minister confirm that Wanslea has been told by the
department to not give vouchers this Christmas and to tell grandcarers to go to
St Vincent de Paul or Good Samaritans if they require assistance over the
Christmas period?
SUPPORT SCHEME
986. Ms S.F. McGURK to the
Minister for Community Services:
I refer to the grandcarers support scheme administered by Wanslea
Family Services in conjunction with the Department for Communities. Last year,
Wanslea organised for grandcarers to receive a $50 Coles voucher to assist them
with extra costs at this time of year to put something special on the table at
Christmas. Can the minister confirm that Wanslea has been told by the
department to not give vouchers this Christmas and to tell grandcarers to go to
St Vincent de Paul or Good Samaritans if they require assistance over the
Christmas period?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for her question about the grandcarers support
scheme. What a fantastic scheme it is! It is an initiative that was put forward
by this government. Again, Western Australia is the only state in Australia that
recognises grandcarers in our community. There have been 1 200 grandparents who
have applied for funding of $400 for the first child and $250 for the second
child for whom they take responsibility. Coming to government last term, we
gave Wanslea Family Services the contract to administer the grandcarers support
scheme. Part of that administration process was money to administer the scheme
and also to put money on the table to help with respite for grandcarers, so
they can access some money to get a break from their day-to-day life—they
are at a time in their life when they should be out travelling the world—and
this scheme can give them a break. Wanslea has been very good at administering
the grandcarers support scheme. To be honest with the member, I do not have any
details on how they administer that money. I am unaware of any of those
changes.
Ms S.F. McGurk : Maybe you should make yourself aware,
minister.
Mr A.J. SIMPSON : I will now that the member has raised it
with me. I will make myself very aware of Wanslea to see what it is doing with
the money in terms of supporting our grandcarers in the metropolitan area and
the wider state to make sure they continue to do the great job that they do.
scheme. What a fantastic scheme it is! It is an initiative that was put forward
by this government. Again, Western Australia is the only state in Australia that
recognises grandcarers in our community. There have been 1 200 grandparents who
have applied for funding of $400 for the first child and $250 for the second
child for whom they take responsibility. Coming to government last term, we
gave Wanslea Family Services the contract to administer the grandcarers support
scheme. Part of that administration process was money to administer the scheme
and also to put money on the table to help with respite for grandcarers, so
they can access some money to get a break from their day-to-day life—they
are at a time in their life when they should be out travelling the world—and
this scheme can give them a break. Wanslea has been very good at administering
the grandcarers support scheme. To be honest with the member, I do not have any
details on how they administer that money. I am unaware of any of those
changes.
Ms S.F. McGurk : Maybe you should make yourself aware,
minister.
Mr A.J. SIMPSON : I will now that the member has raised it
with me. I will make myself very aware of Wanslea to see what it is doing with
the money in terms of supporting our grandcarers in the metropolitan area and
the wider state to make sure they continue to do the great job that they do.
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