Delivering new facilities for cancer patients in Orange

Cancer patients in western NSW will have greater support through new accommodation at Orange Hospital thanks to more than $1.3 million in Australian Government funding.

Senator Matt Thistlethwaite today opened the Western Care Lodge on behalf of the Minister for Employment Participation, Kate Ellis.

“People in the state’s west will receive long term benefits from this facility, funded through a program to create employment opportunities, improve community amenities and achieve positive social outcomes,” Senator Thistlewaite said.

“The lodge will cater for patients who would otherwise have to travel long distances for treatment and is another step towards breaking down the barriers of distance and location for cancer patients and their families in western NSW.

“The building is also a model for green and leading edge accommodation facilities with the construction of 14 twin rooms which allows patients to bring along a family member during their stay,” he said.

Minister Ellis said that the Australian Government allocated the funding to Cancer Care Western NSW from the Get Communities Working stream of the Jobs Fund.

“As well as being a tremendous facility for the local community, the construction of the lodge has created more than 200 jobs and nearly 40 apprenticeships or traineeships,” Ms Ellis said.

“Jobs Fund projects across Australia have substantially exceeded the expected employment outcomes nationwide, successfully supporting more than 10,000 jobs, 2800 traineeships and apprenticeships and 5300 work experience opportunities.

“With each room in the Western Care Lodge named in honour of contributing communities,  the facility is truly a symbol of the community spirit that has gone into the construction phase and that will continue into the future,” Ms Ellis said.

Under the Get Communities Working and Local Jobs streams of the Jobs Fund, the Australian Government has invested around $170 million in more than 220 projects throughout Australia.