Future of beloved Bundaberg aged care centre Gracie Dixon in doubt

The future of a beloved respite centre in Bundaberg is in question after the regional council announced their departure from aged care after 25 years.

Bundaberg Mayor Helen Blackburn outside the Gracie Dixon Centre on Monday. Photo: Morgan Everett.

Bundaberg council has shocked families of elderly residents with a sudden announcement about their involvement in aged care.

For a quarter of a century, families across the region have relied upon a number of council run aged care facilities around Bundaberg to care for their loved ones in their final days.

In a seemingly sudden announcement made online, residents learned the council planned to transition out of aged care after 25 years in the business.

Former Division 7 council candidate Geoff Warham broke the news online, with commenters initially led to believe the council run Gracie Dixon centre would be closed for good.

Mayor Helen Blackburn addressed these concerns in a statement to the media on Monday.

She said a recent legislative change to the federal governments Support At Home program meant the council was no longer in a position to provide aged care at the three facilities in Bundaberg, Childers and Gin Gin.

Ms Blackburn said the decision over which private provider would be chosen was out of the councils’ hands.

The Federal government will roll out all the changes in a five month transition process.

Mayor Helen Blackburn outside beloved respite centre in Bundaberg on Monday. Photo: Morgan Everett

Families who have depended on the respite services worried the transition may prove taxing on their loved ones, but Ms Blackburn said they need not worry.

Once the private operator is selected, the federal government hopes to transition things without residents realising.

She said the regional council could focus their efforts on improving other services in the meantime. “Roads, rates, rubbish”.

“Our job is not to be a one-stop-shop for everything,” she said.