The Lakes Entrance Regional Historical Society life member is on a mission to document her family’s connection to a homestead on the Boole Poole peninsula on the Gippsland Lakes. The homestead was built in 1880 and is only accessible by boat.
Marie spends time on research and writing, often correcting previous records about the property. When she’s not working on family history, she’s knitting trauma teddies for the Red Cross. She’s always loved spinning her own wool and knitting for the family.
She’s able to continue her valuable local work from the comfort of her home, supported by a Home Care Package from Gippsland Lakes Complete Health (GLCH).
“Without them, I couldn’t be at home,”
Marie said.
She has support with gardening, lawn mowing, cleaning, home maintenance and has been able to access mobility equipment and allied health services.
With family living outside East Gippsland, the support is vital to Marie’s independence.
“It means everything to me. Without that support I couldn’t be at home. I just couldn’t – I’d be in a nursing home. And I don’t want to be in a nursing home yet, I have too many things to do,” she said.
“It’s nice to have visits from family from time-to-time, but I’m not a problem to my family. I’m independent and that’s everything. If anyone needs a package, go for it.”
Marie grew up at Newry and went to school at Maffra and Sale. Her connections to the Gippsland Lakes date back to 1895, when her father was born at Metung. She loves living in Lakes Entrance.
“I wouldn’t live anywhere else; it’s a wonderful place,” she said.
Marie called on others needing support to live independently into their later years, to ask for help.
Marie’s story is not unique — thousands of older Australians rely on Home Care Packages to live independently. But reforms are on the way.
From November 1, the Federal Government will roll out a new aged care program called Support at Home, which will replace existing Home Care Packages.
GLCH is calling for an immediate release of more home care packages ahead of this transition, to ensure older people in East Gippsland aren’t left waiting.
GLCH executive manager Penny Cassidy said change could be challenging but reassured current package recipients they would not be worse off under the new system.
“The reforms will require new entrants to contribute to the cost of their care,”
Penny said.
“We’ll share more information in the coming months including changes to pricing for services and co-contribution fees under Support at Home. However, a ‘no worse off’ principle will apply to the co-contribution fees for people who are already receiving
a package.”
To be eligible for a home care package, you must be aged 65 years or older or 50 years or older for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. The first step is to register for an assessment via My Aged Care.
“Go for it,” Marie said.
“Don’t think it’s charity, it’s not. If you need help, do get help because it makes all the difference to your life.”
The first step in accessing support is to register for the Federal Government’s service portal called My Aged Care, which will organise an assessment.
More information is available on the GLCH website or by phoning the aged care services team.
