Cr Sandice McAulay, Murrindindi Mayor

Murrindindi Shire Council has this week announced the outside organisations that will deliver aged and disability services to local residents from January 1.

Not-for-profit providers Nexus Primary Health and Menzies Support Services will Mayor Cr Sandice Mc-Aulay said that this decision has come at the end of a long process of consultation and discussion with the community, service providers, volunteers and Council staff.

“We are really pleased with this decision from the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments. Nexus Primary Health and Menzies Support Services will be working together to deliver aged and disability services,” said Cr McAulay.

“It was always going to be really important to have local providers delivering these incredibly important services to our community.

“We recommended a collaborative and locally-led model of service delivery to the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments and this outcome shows they listened.

“We will work with Nexus Primary Health and Menzies Support Services over coming months to make the change easy for clients and carers and to make sure there is a smooth handover of services.

“These providers will be delivering domestic assistance, meals on wheels, and personal care, respite care, planned activity groups and home maintenance.

“We are writing to clients and volunteers about the appointment of the new provider to let them know how these changes will be implemented.

“In addition to supporting the transition to the new service providers, Council will still maintain a role in supporting older people and people with a disability in the future.

“In the next few months, Council will be appointing a Positive Ageing Community Information and Support Officer. “This position will work in a support and advocacy capacity to help individuals better understand these services and to help them access to these services.

Suzanne Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Nexus Primary Health, and Melinda Burgess, Chief Executive Officer, Menzies Support Services said they were looking forward to delivering these services to the community.

“We believe that this partnership between Nexus Primary Health and Menzies Support Services is a great outcome and we believe we are very well placed to deliver these services to our community.

“We are looking forward to working closely with Murrindindi Shire Council and local services during this transition”.

Cr McAulay said that Council and the new providers are holding a series of community information sessions in early October to help those with questions about the change.

“If you receive these services or are close to someone who does, I urge you to come along and meet the new providers.

“The details of these information sessions are on our website or give Council a call to find the session closest to you.

“If you need assistance with transport to get to the sessions, please give Council a call.

“Council will continue to deliver these services until the changeover date of December 31.

“Clients and carers should call us at 5772 0333 with any queries until then”, said Cr McAulay.