Sharon Claydon today hosted a senior's community information forum for residents of Beresfield and surrounds.
About 100 community members gathered at the Beresfield Bowling Club to hear from community service providers on a range of issues, including:
- Centrelink & Medicare - Payment and Information Update
- The Aged-Care Rights Service (TARS) - Who we are & What we do
- NSW Fair Trading - Scams
- NSW Law Society - Wills and Estate Planning
- Heart Foundation - Heart Moves
Representatives from Telstra, 2322 Men's Shed, the National Disability Insurance Agency and Beresfield and District Community Care also attended.
Ms Claydon was thankful for the opportunity to bring together the service providers for the community.
"Planning for retirement and old age is imperative and getting the right information from the right people is important," Ms Claydon said.
"Sometimes navigating the system can be challenging but there are a number of organisations out there that can help people make their way through it."
"Today was about connecting the community with some of the information and services that are available, and hearing directly about the issues that are most important to them."
A number of people raised concerns about recent proposals by the Abbott Liberal Government to make changes to the age pension and other senior's entitlements.
"I have had a lot of enquiries from concerned seniors and retirees who are worried about cuts to their age pension and changes to pension and seniors health care card eligibility," Ms Claydon said.
"Their worries aren't unfounded given the Abbott Liberal Government's refusal to release their Commission of Cuts report or confirm that the age pension won't be cut."
"Keeping the report hidden does nothing but raise concerns and general anxiety and I urge the Government to end the secrecy and release the report to the public as a matter of urgency."
Today's event was the first of a number of community information forums that Ms Claydon will host throughout the Newcastle electorate.
