Short-term financial support will be restored to allow Canberra carers to continue accessing respite beds at the Burrangiri Aged Care Respite Centre in Rivett after the federal government agreed to amend Commonwealth Home Support Program grant guidelines, according to independent MLA Fiona Carrick.

“For the thousands of Canberra carers who depend on Burrangiri, this announcement provides financial support to access Burrangiri, at least until mid-2027,” Ms Carrick said.

The Burrangiri facility provides 15 respite beds — about half of the ACT’s available capacity — with 24-hour registered nurse care. The ACT Government has also extended the Salvation Army’s contract to operate the centre through to mid-2027.

Ms Carrick said the decision provided certainty for many of the Territory’s more than 58,000 carers who rely on respite services.

“Reliable respite isn’t optional, it is essential to sustaining their wellbeing,” she said.

ACT independent Senator David Pocock also welcomed the change, which follows concerns that the transition to the federal Support at Home system had prevented older Canberrans from accessing Burrangiri as they had previously.

“Today’s announcement isn’t a guarantee of support but it does open up a pathway and shows that pressure from our community can pay off,” Senator Pocock said.

He said community advocates and local representatives had worked together to press governments for a solution but warned the change was only temporary.

“While I welcome this announcement, it is a temporary fix and we need to keep working collaboratively on a long-term solution for Burrangiri and the provision of respite and aged care in the ACT more broadly,” he said.

The Commonwealth has committed $10 million for new capital infrastructure to expand aged-care respite capacity in the Territory, with Ms Carrick saying the funding should be used to increase the number of beds while maintaining access to 24-hour nursing care.

Independent candidate for Bean Jessie Price said community pressure had played a role in securing the outcome.

“Community pressure works. This much-needed and much loved facility has been saved by the community coming together to fight for it,” she said.