On Tuesday 26th August, Mission Australia will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the opening of Charles Chambers Court (CCC), its Surry Hills based aged-care facility for the homeless, frail and aged. Special guest at the event will be Ita Buttrose, AO OBE.

The occasion will be a double celebration for CCC, which the previous day received the $10,000 Positive Living in Aged Care Award (Selective Strategies Category) for its programs to promote the maintenance and/or the improvement of the mental health and wellbeing of residents with special needs...
CCC is one of a few aged-care homes of its kind in Australia, which caters exclusively for low-income and homeless clients, many who have come directly from living on the streets.

More than 50% of the CCC residents have a diagnosed mental illness. In addition to having a safe home, residents have access to medical treatment and support, psychiatric and psychogeriatric treatment, recreational activities and assistance with daily tasks.

Without a place in CCC the residents would more than likely remain homeless for the rest of their lives, as they have minimal, if any, prospect of being able to secure a place in another aged care home.

Only 10 residents have any connection with their family and the majority require specialised care and support unavailable in other aged care facilities.

Venue: Charles Chambers Court, 11 Hunt Street Surry Hills, Sydney
Date: Tuesday 26th August 2008
Time: 2pm – 4.30pm (formal proceedings commencing at 2.30pm)

Speakers:

Ita Buttrose AO OBE
Toby Hall, CEO Mission Australia
Leonie Green, Director of Community Services, NSW ACT, Mission Australia
Jill Bicknell, Director of Care, Charles Chambers Court, Mission Australia

Speakers will be available for interviews. Journalists are requested to register their interest.

Media contact: Patrick Flynn, (02) 9641 5031 or 0407 411 256