Achieving Outcomes
As your local State Member of Parliament, I work with all levels of Government, irrespective of political background, and the local community and the business sector to achieve outcomes for you.
Much of what I do has to be behind the scenes such as when I work with the local women's refuge, the local police or local schools.
In supporting the local women's refuge, it is critical that it's location is not made public so that women and children at risk of domestic violence, are protected when they are at the refuge.
However, I regularly visit the refuge and ensure that it has appropriate support from Government agencies and that it has necessary funding.
If you, or a member of your family needs referral to the Refuge, just call my Electorate Office.
The local police are a State Government agency and support for them is critical to achieving a safe local community.
Sometimes however, the Labor Government has over-looked the need for funding and my role has been to ensure appropriate attention is given to funding and related issues.
Achieving results occurs in many ways, but I thought you may be interested to see just two recent examples of me as your State MP working to achieve outcomes (whether or not the Government initially wants to help!)
VOLUNTEERS AT MANLY HOSPITAL
In March 2009 I wrote to the then Health Minister, The Hon John Della Bosca MLC.
In that correspondence I asked him for his support "for a volunteer program at Manly Hospital to assist patients with meals".
This correspondence to the Minister followed my visits to Manly Hospital and my observation that many of the frail and aged patients were incapable of feeding themselves, particularly because of the way the food was presented.
I had noted that many of the food items were presented in containers such as yoghurt containers which are quite difficult to open.
Three months later I finally got a response from the Labor Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Dr Andrew McDonald MP which seemed to indicate that the Government was not inclined to the use of volunteers.
Dr McDonald noted that "before volunteers can assist with feeding patients they must undertake training and then be supervised by the patient care team. It is not always appropriate for volunteers to feed patients, as patients may be confused, have delirium or dementia, or experience swallowing difficulties if, for example, they have had a stroke."
"Registered Nurses at Manly Hospital are responsible for ensuring patients receive adequate nutrition and providing assistance where it is required. Older people are also supported by the Acute Care of the Elderly Mobility Enhancement Program to receive assistance at meal times."
Dr McDonald finished his correspondence with the advice that "volunteers at Manly Hospital provide assistance and support with patient transport, pastoral care, arranging and caring for flowers, reading and visiting with patients, and nursery crib preparations."
It seemed at that stage that helping with dietary requirements was not going to happen!
But in January 2010, I wrote to the new Health Minister, The Hon Carmel Tebbutt MP and again noted my concerns. Finally I received a response from Carmel Tebbutt on the 18th March 2010 and low and behold, the new Health Minister then advised that "there are a number of new initiatives that are occurring to ensure that elderly patients receive sufficient sustenance during their stay".
In the meantime whilst the "merry-go-round" of Ministerial correspondence took place, I also liaised directly with Manly Hospital and was pleased that the staff took on board the message and set about trying to find ways to implement a volunteer scheme.
It was therefore with great pleasure that I attended at the hospital and observed the first two inductees being trained to assist in the task of helping patients with their meals.
Whilst it took a while - hopefully it will all be worth the effort in the long run.
If any residents would like to volunteer to assist patients at Manly Hospital with their meal time needs - you can telephone Manly Hospital and speak to Cheryl Dawson on 9976 9529.
Oxford Falls Development
Planning Minister Kristina Keneally has released a statement on proposed developments at Oxford Falls.
Click here to see her media release.
The Manly-Warringah Women's Resource Centre (The Bringa Refuge)
Located on the Northern Beaches this centre provides a range of services for women and children at risk of domestic violence.
It also provides a range of other services including pregnancy advice for young women.
The contact phone number is: 9981 6413.
Recently the Department of Community Services (DoCS) was unable to confirm funding for an outreach worker who works with women who have left the refuge and commenced independent living, usually in a Department of Housing house.
It was obvious to me that the Labor Government should be funding the continuation of the programme as it fitted with their policy of supporting women and children who have been the victims of domestic violence.
I attended meetings at the refuge to discuss the detail and thereafter wrote to the Minister for Community Services and then followed up with discussions with the Minister's Chief of Staff.
The Minister then personally advised me that the funding would continue for the next three years. When no letter of confirmation arrived, I raised the issue again with the Minister and shortly after that call, the letter was issued and the refuge knew that it could continue its vital work.