A partnership between the State and Federal Governments has delivered 17 new homes across Tasmania for people with disability, the Minister for Human Services, Cassy O’Connor, said today.

At Newnham this morning, Ms O’Connor toured the two final units completed under the $3.42 million program.

“Each of these units has been built near an existing disability group home or other supported accommodation,” Ms O’Connor said.

“This will ensure that residents can continue to live with the level of independence they are used to, while still being able to access the support they need.”

Ms O’Connor said the new units would also help older carers plan for the time when their adult children with disability need to move from home to other accommodation.

“These units will provide the reassurance that another option exists when elderly carers can no longer care for their adult children at home,” she said.

Ms O’Connor said an additional investment from both the State and Federal Governments has helped deliver more units through the program than originally anticipated.

“After the Commonwealth provided funding for 12 units, we were able to commit funding and land for an additional three units, with two more built under the Federal Government’s National Building Stimulus Funding Package,” she said.

“This demonstrates the commitment at both a State and Federal level to delivering more flexible living options for Tasmanians with a disability.”

The Federal Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Disability Reform, Jenny Macklin said the Australian Government’s $100 million investment in capital funds for supported accommodation has helped build more than 300 supported accommodation places across Australia, including those in Tasmania.

“This project is a great example of how the combination of Commonwealth and State Government investment in supported accommodation is helping address unmet demand, support people with disability and their carers to plan for the future and provide dignity for people with disability,” she said.

“The Australian Government is committed to working with State and Territory governments to improve the lives of people with disability – in addition to our investments in supported accommodation, we’re doubling our funding under the National Disability Agreement over the life of the Agreement, established the first ever National Disability Strategy, and announced that the first stage of a National Disability Insurance Scheme will start in mid-2013.”

Ms O’Connor said the units were designed to meet the needs of people living with disability while also delivering an attractive and environmentally-efficient home.

Units delivered through the $3.42 million program have been built at Legana, Newnham, Latrobe, Wynyard, Burnie, Warrane and Chigwell.