An Albanese Labor Government will provide $12 million to help deliver better aged care services for the Maronite community by investing in Our Lady of Lebanon and supporting the Lebanese Maronite Order of Australia.
Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds face additional barriers accessing aged care, especially services that meet their cultural, linguistic and religious needs.
Labor’s commitment will make a real difference to the lives of Maronite seniors, making aged care feel less like a facility and more like a village. It will mean they can pray in the Cathedral, share a Lebanese coffee at the café, and chat in Arabic to families in the park as they collect children from the Childcare Centre and the College.
This investment will contribute to the Aged Care Master Plan at Our Lady of Lebanon in Harris Park and invest in the Lebanese Maronite Order of Australia to upgrade its IT and Nurse Call systems.
An Albanese Labor Government will also join forces with the Maggie Beer Foundation and alliance partners to improve food in aged care – because residents should get the healthy and high-quality meals they need and deserve which respects cultural and religious requirements.
Labor will make sure older culturally and linguistically diverse Australians have access to the high quality, culturally sensitive support they need and deserve.
Labor Candidate for Parramatta Andrew Charlton said:
“As soon as you walk into the Our Lady of Lebanon Church you feel the strength of the great Maronite community and its strong values.”
“I have been privileged to meet with Bishop Tarabay and dozens of members of the Maronite community, which now numbers more than 30,000 people.”
“The funding announced by Labor ensures that the community at Harris Park can serve all generations. It will help connect aged care, child care, worship and schooling together - ensuring families can access all parts of the precinct.”
“Labor is honoured to support the church to build connections between each part of the campus.”
