Question - Northern Hospice

Wednesday 22 March 2023

Ms ARMITAGE question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Mrs HISCUTT

[2.36 p.m.]

Following the allocation for a northern hospice by the federal government in the 2022‑23 Budget, handed down in October 2022, and the advice from that same month that the discussions regarding the commencement of this project had started:

(1)     what progress has been made to date;

(2)     what progress has been made towards the formation of a project to identify key deliverables and relevant time frames for meeting these milestones;

(3)     what progress is being made towards location of a site for the hospice and has the site been identified; and

(4)     to date, what discussions have taken place with the palliative care clinical network and the Friends of the Northern Hospice group?  If discussions have not yet taken place, can you please advise a time frame for when they will occur?

ANSWER

(1)        A reference group to inform the Northern Hospice Project has been established and will be meeting in April 2023with Ms Dianne Wright OAM, the founder of the Geelong and Colac Anam Cara hospices, to assist in forming the functional requirements of Northern Hospice.

(2)        Negotiations are underway with the Commonwealth to finalise the funding agreement.  The funding agreement will include time frames and key milestones.

(3)        A consultant has been engaged to review potential sites for the Northern Hospice.

(4)        The reference group includes representation from the palliative care clinical network and the Friends of the Northern Hospice group.