Killarney Memorial Aged Care receives $1.4m to trial renewed holistic healthcare approach

Access to mental and physical healthcare services is about to become a whole lot easier for the rural communities of the Southern Downs. Find out why here.

Rural and remote areas can often be left behind when it comes to funding for healthcare and outreach services.

For youth and those living on rural properties, it can be even more difficult.

The federal government has recently announced an injection of $1.4m into Killarney Memorial Aged Care to trial a renewed holistic healthcare approach for the wider Southern Downs communities.

Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler made the announcement on Wednesday, noting the funding will work to expand the Killarney Medical Centre to provide more access to mental and physical health services for locals.

The new model of care will also include outreach services to the wider communities of Yangan, Mount Colliery, Legume and Tannymorel.

Targeting programs for at risk youth, mothers and children, seniors as well as a comprehensive palliative care program and dementia alliance.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, NewsWire Photos. DECEMBER 7, 2023: Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler during Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The 60-bed residential aged care service is one of the few remaining regional community owned, not-for-profit healthcare centres.

Warwick woman Wendy Rhea’s mother has been a resident of KMAC for the past 13 months, and said she appreciated the importance of outreach services for dementia patients and their families.

“I transferred mum up from Victoria about 13 months ago and at the time I didn’t know (which services) to go to,” she said.

“I had a lot of trouble accessing the right services for mum when she was in Victoria.”

Ms Rhea said although the journey in arranging her mothers transfer to Queensland wasn’t an easy one, the service and care she’s already received from KMAC has been above and beyond.

The Killarney community and wider district has seen a major injection into healthcare services and outreach programs focusing on mental and physical health services.

“The management team there have been fantastic and I no longer worry about mum as much anymore,” she said.

Ms Rhea said the management team at KMAC put in effort to inform family members of what’s going on, which was one of the many reasons she highly recommended the aged care service.

Killarney Memorial Aged Care chief executive Sarah Fea said the goal of the four year pilot program was to transform the healthcare services in Killarney with a view to transfer the program to Australian communities.

“We will implement a holistic and team-based care approach to address the specific health needs of people in Killarney and the district,” she said.

The holistic team will be inclusive of GPs, community support workers, psychology and counselling professionals, nutritionist and other allied health specialists to collaborate on each individual care plan.

“We can use our current telehealth technology where these professionals cannot do

sessions in our practice rooms and we will also be investigating new technology to help

bridge the gap,” she said.

“We are also focusing on community health and wellbeing, with community fitness and

nutrition programs, a proposed mothers’ group, community garden, and mentoring

youth by the men’s shed.”

Below is a list of the planned programs included in new model.

• A Dementia Alliance bringing together local healthcare professionals, caregivers, community organisations and Dementia Australia.
• A comprehensive palliative care program offering medical, emotional, and social support for individuals nearing the end of life.
• Tailored support groups for mothers and young mothers addressing specific needs, such as mental health, nutrition, child health, and fitness.
• Intergenerational/volunteer programs such as a community driven garden, and Men’s Shed Mentoring Program for At-Risk Youth; and
• Fitness and nutrition programs.