Bright is the only community of its size in Victoria that does not have a high needs aged care facility, member for Indi Helen Haines says.
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Dr Haines will tomorrow host a roundtable event with the federal Minister for Aged Care Services Richard Colbeck and Minister for Regional Health David Gillespie, in an attempt to secure funding to build a new residential aged care facility in Bright.
Victorian MPs Tim McCurdy and Tania Maxwell will also attend the roundtable.
Alpine Shire Mayor Sarah Nicholas, Alpine Health chief executive Nick Shaw and local health professionals will speak about the need for the new facility in the town.
Dr Haines said the event would allow the community to make their case directly to the decision makers.
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She believes there is strong case for federal funding.
"There are many examples where this government has put large sums of money towards individual aged care centres - $15.4 million for a project in Queensland, $12.4 million for a project in South Australia," she said.
"I think Bright deserves that same treatment. Bright is the only town of its size in Victoria that doesn't have a high needs aged care facility.
"The case for the federal government to invest is overwhelming."
Dr Haines invited a number of Victorian government representatives to attend the roundtable, but all declined.
I would hate to see towns like Bright miss out because the government failed to deliver on the Royal Commission.
- Helen Haines, Member for Indi
"It is unfortunate that no Victorian representative were available to engage in this meeting, where there is a rare chance for federal representatives, local representatives and state representatives to meet and work together across party lines to get the best outcome for Bright and surrounds," Dr Haines said.
"I hope that having seen how seriously the federal government is engaging with this project, the Victorian government will come to the table in the new year."
Dr Haines said government spending on residential aged care was less than 10 per cent of the Aged Care Royal Commission's recommended $1 billion a year.
"The government has told me there is just $80 million a year for the next four years," she said.
"I would hate to see towns like Bright miss out because the government failed to deliver on the Royal Commission."
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