Sally Sara: Meals on Wheels is a crucial service for many elderly Australians and people with a disability, serving up nutritious dishes and regular conversation. But a major provider in Perth is facing the closure of its kitchen, while in other parts of the country some providers can't keep up with demand. Jamie Smith prepared this report.
Ron Griffiths: Hello Molly.
Molly: G'day Ron.
Ron Griffiths: Good to see ya.
Molly: Oh good to see you too.
Jamie Smith : Ron Griffiths loves greeting his Meals on Wheels delivery driver and if it wasn't for this routine the 90 year old may not be alive today. When he had a fall in his Perth home he says it was the driver who sounded the alarm.
Ron Griffiths: She rang the office to say that the dog was out but hadn't delivered the meal and that was terribly important because they do this quite often with old folk because they might have had a stroke or a fall.
Jamie Smith : He's one of many who rely on the service for cheap, reliable and nutritious meals. For him it's only made possible through Chorus Kitchen, a provider which services clients across Perth South. Today they're preparing roast pork and veggies, then it's sealed for delivery. But busy days like this could be numbered. Its complex is slated for demolition to make way for an aged care centre and the service can't find a new home. Chef Myra Lydons says those who rely on the service will struggle.
Myra Lydon: At the moment we're doing about 2,500 meals per week or around 10,000 per month and that number is increasing every week as we onboard new clients. We're looking for someone to help us to find an affordable industrial kitchen so we can continue to provide those meals.
Jamie Smith : The potential loss of Chorus Kitchen would be another blow to Meals on Wheels WA which it says is struggling to stay afloat financially. It's an alarming situation for Louise Giolitto from the WA Council of Social Service.
Louise Giolitto: It would be terrible. The Government should fund the real cost of services to ensure these critical services are available to all people across the state when and where they need them.
Jamie Smith : Meals on Wheels is funded through different arrangements across the country. The Federal Government recently announced a raft of changes to better support in-home care services, including supplementary grants for providers whose operating costs exceed their revenue. But it won't come into effect until at least mid-2027. National Chair Paul Sadler says WA in particular is struggling with the shortfall. Some other locations are also feeling the pinch as demand surges from an aging population and the cost of living.
Paul Sadler: Some of our branches around the country have had to close their books to new clients.
Jamie Smith : And he says a lack of volunteers is also to blame.
Paul Sadler: We now have 35,000 volunteers nationally. That was sitting at 45,000 before the pandemic. So that's been a substantial impact on us.
Jamie Smith : But with the upcoming Government funding changes, Paul Sadler is confident the charity has a strong future. Staff and clients of Perth's Chorus Kitchen just hope they'll be in it.
Sally Sara: That's Jamie Smith and Isabel Moussalli with that report.