General News
2 May, 2025
Chair issues Meals on Wheels plea
The chair of an organisation providing more than 350 meals a month to the elderly across the Wimmera is asking for all political sides to support the cause coming into the federal election.
Meals on Wheels currently services the program for West Wimmera Shire Council, brokering hospital kitchens to provide meals through both Grampians Health Edenhope and West Wimmera Health Service Kaniva.
A media representative said an estimated 366 meals, ranging from chilled or frozen to hot, were delivered every month across the Wimmera.
Paul Sadler, chair of Meals on Wheels Australia Ltd, said rising prices, along with difficulties recruiting and retaining vounteers and an increasing burden of compliance, were placing pressure on the service.
The organisation is seeking commitments including:
- fully funding services through grants and/or activity-based funding mechanisms rather than individual budgets
- allocation of Commonwealth Home Support Program growth funding targeted to areas where there were service waiting lists.
"We are concerned that an increasing number of meals services have their books closed to new clients," Mr Sadler said.
"We believe a modest level of funding would be money well spent as we provide critical support to our members through introduction of the new Aged Care Act and the Support at Home Program."