MP Littleproud said residents, community traumatised over uncalled for closure of Tarcoola

‘Staffing solutions were there’: Key community members of Tara fought and won to keep their aged care facility open and now MP David Littleproud said the town should never have been put through the ordeal in the first place.

Maranoa MP David Littleproud met with key members of the Tara community who were quintessential to the council reversing their decision to close the Tarcoola Aged Care Facility and sign on with Southern Cross Care. Picture: Supplied

Utter shock and disbelief over the council’s decision to close Tara’s only nursing home ignited a fire in the community that fought daily to reverse the call, as Member for Maranoa David Littleproud says the ‘traumatic’ event never should have occurred in the first place.

Former mayor Phillip Bougoure, Steering Committee member (CM) Nelson Neal, CM president Allan Bougoure, former Tarcoola manager and CM Sharmaine Hurford, Mayor Paul McVeigh, CM Brent Arnold and Sophie Bougoure – celebrated the council’s efforts in finding another solution to keep Tarcoola open after Southern Cross Care agreed to come on board. Pic: Peta McEachern

Western Downs Regional Council repeatedly pointed to a shortage in qualified registered nurses as the reason behind closing the Tarcoola Aged Care Facility – displacing close to 30 vulnerable and heartbroken residents.

Mr Littleproud always claimed the council had options available to them to keep Tarcoola open and drove that message home after the council and Southern Cross Care announced the aged care provider would take over from Monday.

“There’s been (staff) challenges but there have always been options and there were always solutions and that’s why there is a third party because they know there is a better pathway.”

“It was unnecessary but ultimately it was only because of the community showing they weren’t going to give up and that they were going to fight for this, that the council understood they were in a corner and they did have to do something about it.”

After repeatedly waking up at 2am in a stress ridden panic wondering where she would be forced to move, 91-year-old Tarcoola resident Betty Shepheard said it was a huge relief to learn she would be able to stay in the place she calls home. Pic: Peta McEachern

Mr Littleproud said the council was negotiating with Southern Cross Care throughout the entire ordeal and said the process should have bee better.

“The negotiations should have happened privately and obviously they were ongoing throughout this whole process and it should have been allowed to take course without the community going through the trauma (of a closure),” he said.

“The community shouldn’t have been tortured the way they were. The community has been taken to hell and back when they probably didn’t need to be.”

Southern Cross Care Australia and the Steering Committee will work with the council to ensure the current and future generations of Western Downs aged care residents are given the respect, dignity and right to live out the remaining years of their lives in the place they call home. Pic: Peta McEachern

Mayor Paul McVeigh hit back at Mr Littleproud’s claims, saying the council’s hand was forced due to its inability to secure staff, and supply adequate ongoing care to residents and staff.

Mr McVeigh said conversations with the Federal Government before July never eventuated to getting staff on the round.

“The council has worked extremely hard to get to this positive outcome and to partner with Southern Cross Care to move forward with certainty that our residents will be cared for and to secure staffing to deliver the care they deserve,” he said.

After receiving backlash in late July from the Federal Department of Health and Queensland Health Minister, a council spokesman dismissed claims the council received help with staffing despite pleading for assistance for months.

“No additional nurses have (been) provided. There has not been any offer of additional financial assistance received from any other level of government,” he said.

Maranoa MP David Littleproud met with key members of the Tara community who were quintessential to the council reversing their decision to close the Tarcoola Aged Care Facility and sign on with Southern Cross Care. Picture: Supplied

Mr Littleproud said despite the “human toll” that followed the closure announcement, the determination and strength of the community and particularly the steering committee, was a leading example of a community willing to stand up, fight for what’s right, and make meaningful and lasting change.

“It’s the community that’s made this happen, no one else. The community here in Tara should be proud of these men and women that have stood up,” he said.

“Now we have a tighter community and stronger community … I think everyone who lives in Tara should thank them and know they live in a great town and never lose sight of that.”

Southern Cross Care CEO Jason Eldering and Steering Committee president Allan Bougoure will work together to ensure a smooth transition and strong partnership with the council moving into the next chapter of aged care across the Western Downs. Picture: Peta McEachern

Mr Littleproud said he made a commitment to work collaboratively with Southern Cross Care and CEO Jason Eldering to ensure a sustainable future for aged care across the region and address the aged care workforce crisis gripping the nation.