08
March
2018
|
16:55
Australia/Melbourne

Hon Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Social Services launches new Bupa Therapy Centre

Bupa’s new purpose-built Therapy Centre was officially launched by the Minister for Social Services, Dan Tehan MP in West Melbourne today.

Hon Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Social Services, Bupa Therapy Operations Manager, Angela Aldous, Bupa Australia Chief Executive Officer, Richard Bowden.

The state-of-the-art therapy centre was completed last November to help meet the growing demand of disability and NDIS services across Melbourne.

It was co-designed by people living with a disability and carers so the centre meets their needs and to help make care easier and more coordinated.

The NDIS has started rolling out nationally and by the time it’s fully implemented in 2020, it’s expected to support around 460,000 Australians, including 105,000 Victorians with a disability.

Hon Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Social Services said he was delighted to be at the opening of the new therapy centre.

Hon Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Social Services
It's a pleasure to be here to open this therapy centre, it's going to play a very important role, the centre and other centres like across Victoria but also across the nation as we roll out the NDIS.
Hon Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Social Services

"That's why it’s great to be here because what we’re seeing from Bupa is investments that will make a big difference especially when it comes to the disability sector."

Hon Dan Tehan MP acknowledged Richard Bowden, Australia's Chief Executive Officer and to everyone that works at the therapy centre.

"Richard, to you to all the people that work in the centre - thank you, for what you do. Thank you, because you will be the ones ultimately in the end with that personal contact which will make a huge difference to people's lives," Hon Dan Tehan MP said.

Mr Bowden, was also at the opening said Bupa is excited to expand into therapy to make a difference to all Australians.

“Bupa isn’t just a health insurer, we are a purpose driven organisation delivering broad based health and care and we are committed to helping people live longer, healthier, happier lives

“We’re excited to draw on our global experience in health, care and rehabilitation services to expand into therapy.

“The National Disability Insurance Scheme puts choice and control into the hands of people living with disability. It’s meant the health and care system has had to evolve to meet their needs,” Mr Bowden said.

Bupa Therapy Operations Manager, Angela Aldous, said the NDIS presented a new and exciting opportunity to think differently about how health providers could best meet the needs of people living with disability.

“It’s made us think of different and innovative ways to improve therapy access to people who arguably need it the most. It’s resulted in our new state-of-the-art, purpose-built therapy centre that’s been co-designed with people living with disability and their carers as well as clinicians.

“People wanted more convenience in terms of care delivery, so having physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology under one roof was key. Our purpose-built facility, we believe, will set the standard for the delivery of innovative therapies in the sector and we are really proud of that.

“NDIS means that bespoke facilities like these are now more accessible and built very much for specific needs,” Ms Aldous said.

The centre is open to all, not just Bupa customers or NDIS participants.

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