Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester is working to secure extra Australian Government funding to help people with a disability in Yarram to stay in the area.
Mr Chester has been lobbying his colleagues in Canberra to get support for Mirridong Services, which is planning an expansion to offer more places in shared supported living units in the town.
Mr Chester met with Mirridong Services chief executive officer Doreen Milne and board president Kevin Heggen last year to discuss the expansion plan.
The expansion involves building two new four-bedroom units and transforming two independent living units into supported units.
“I have been doing everything I can to secure the necessary funding for Mirridong to make this expansion happen,” Mr Chester said.
“Mirridong Services provides a much-valued service to families and individuals in Yarram and from as far away as Woodside, Foster and Carrajung.
“The needs of the Yarram community are changing and Mirridong is working to ensure it can continue to meet those needs.
“Demand has been increasing for supported living units, so this expansion, if we are able to secure the necessary funding, will help ensure Mirridong can continue to meet the demands of the community.”
Mirridong Services has been investigating funding avenues for the new and refurbished supported living units. The cost of refurbishing the current units will be around $100,000, while it will cost more than $500,000 to build the new units.
“It is crucial that Mirridong is able to provide the support that families need for their loved ones,” Mr Chester said.
“If families can’t find appropriate accommodation for their loved ones locally, they will be forced to move away from the area.
“Mirridong, its staff, residents and others who take part in its programs are a much-loved and valued part of the Yarram community. I am working hard to see that the service and the people it serves continue to prosper.”
