Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens promises $50k for Albany hospice hub if Labor re-elected

Albany MLA Rebecca Stephens announced last week a pledge of $50,000 towards the building of a new care hub for Albany Community Hospice if Labor are re-elected in the upcoming State election.

The hub will be launched later in the year and will combine new services with the existing Butterflies Op Shop.

Albany Community Hospice clinical manager Fiona Jane said combining the two services would make the palliative care services offered more accessible to the community.

“The creation of a hospice hub has been identified as being an extension of the work we do at hospice, but with broader impact building on and developing community resources and networks that will support a person and/or their carer requiring support in the local community,” she said.

“As a not-for-profit we are excited by the $50,000 pledge by Rebecca Stephens as we currently do not have funds allocated toward the establishment of the hospice hub, and we believe its establishment has the potential to have a positive impact on our community on many levels.”

The hub aims to increase the efficiency and impact of specialist palliative care services the hospice already provides for free in the community.

Ms Stephens said the funding injection would enable a new community-first approach to palliative care in the Great Southern and provide a positive way for the community to connect with the hospice.

“The Albany (Community) Hospice is very close to my heart and is pivotal to the Albany community,” Ms Stephens said.

“The hospice hub will educate the general public about palliative care as an extension of the incredibly valuable work the hospice currently does, assisting it to move beyond fundraising and volunteering by co-locating the hub with the Butterflies Op Shop.

“This investment will provide broad and incredibly positive impact to the community, building on and developing available community resources and networks supporting people and their carers.”