Lebanese Muslim Association and Maronite Eparchy receive Federal Government grants totalling $15 million for aged care

THE Lebanese Muslim Association will construct a $10 million aged care home in Lakemba following a Federal Government grant.

THE EXPRESS:

THE Lebanese Muslim Association will construct a $10 million aged care home in Lakemba following a Federal Government grant.

The home will be built near the Lakemba Mosque on Wangee Rd and will provide culture-appropriate care for residents. Federal Treasurer Chris Bowen made the announcement when he visited Lakemba Mosque on Thursday to join the opening celebrations of the Eid festival.

The 80 to 100 bed facility is in the design stage.

Association president Samier Dandan said the funding was a historic event for the community.

"There is a very critical need in the Muslim community for aged care with a cultural and religious emphasis," Mr Dandan said.

"We can't go past the demand for such a service."

Mr Dandan said the block of land behind Lakemba Mosque had been purchased by the association in 2006 with a plan to build an aged care facility on it.

Watson Federal Labor MP Tony Burke, who also attended the announcement, had stressed the importance of multicultural aged care at The Express' Watson electoral forum on July 30.

Blaxland Federal Labor MP Jason Clare said the funding would help seniors.

"This can be a frightening time which is why it is so important that our elderly loved ones are cared for by services that share the same language, food preferences and cultural traditions," he said.

WHAT: Culture-specific aged care in Canterbury-Bankstown has received a $15 million boost from the Federal Government

HOW: $10m to the Lebanese Muslim Association to build a facility in Lakemba.

PLUS: The Maronite Eparchy of Australia also received $5m to build an aged care centre in Punchbowl