Released 06/10/2021 - Joint media release
Canberrans will continue to get the vital health support they need through the pandemic.
The ACT Government is investing almost $90 million to continue the COVID-19 public health response and push forward with the vaccine rollout.
Thanks to the enthusiasm of Canberrans, the ACT will be one of the first jurisdictions in Australia to reach 80 percent full vaccination. The ACT is also on track to go well beyond 80 per cent vaccination coverage and reach around 95 percent. Additional funding of $22.5 million will be allocated to the vaccine program to ensure vaccines are available for all eligible Canberrans.
Almost $65 million will be allocated to manage the impact of the virus on the ACT community and provide the Chief Health Officer the support she needs to respond to the ongoing and evolving pandemic.
This includes a range of staff and operational costs including funding for our excellent contact tracing teams, COVID testing and public health teams who are protecting us every day, additional cleaning for public schools and public transport, quarantine costs, hospital and testing services, communication to the community and education, engagement, and compliance activities.
The ACT Hardship Fund has also been extended for 12 months to 30 June 2022 to ensure Canberrans who are temporarily unable to work under a COVID-19 direction or health guidance are not left behind.
Beyond this, a $500 million boost will be provided over four years in the 2021-22 Budget to enhance resourcing in response to growing demand for core services across the ACT public health system and the increased complexity of health service delivery.
Initiatives included in the Budget focus on expanding critical hospital services and increasing community and home-based health services including:
- the first stage of a phased introduction of minimum nurse and midwifery to patient ratios at the Canberra Hospital and Calvary Public Hospital Bruce
- an expansion of the Canberra Hospital Emergency Department to better respond to service demand pressures and to support contemporary models of care
- more elective surgeries and expanded emergency surgery capacity and post-surgery care
- an increase in home-based palliative care services, as well as supporting five new inpatient beds at Clare Holland House hospice
- Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT to provide sexual health education, information and support services for people with disability
The last few months has taught us that the pandemic is definitely not over, and we must remain vigilant. But we have the right plan in place to protect our community and continue to lead our city out of this pandemic and ensure a strong health system in to the future.
Quotes attributable to Chief Minister, Andrew Barr:
This additional funding through the 2021-22 ACT Budget that will ensure we can continue the government’s effective public health response as we move through the phases of the ACT’s Pathway Forward.
Vaccination is an essential part of our COVID response. The more Canberrans we can vaccinate, the safer our city will be.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith:
Our teams across the ACT Government and in the community sector have been doing an incredible job responding to the pandemic, but we know that demand for new and expanded health services has only increased during this period.
We have worked extremely hard to get as many people vaccinated as possible and will continue the rollout until everyone in the ACT who wants to be vaccinated has the opportunity to be vaccinated.
We’re providing extra funding for the ongoing COVID response and vaccine rollout to protect our community and guide Canberra along the pathway out of lockdown.
- Statement ends -
Andrew Barr, MLA | Rachel Stephen-Smith, MLA | Media Releases