Flinders Island Aboriginal Association funded to build staff homes

That is what the organisation's chief executive Maxine Roughley said when it was announced the federal government had offered up $610,000 to build aged care staff accommodation on the island.

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FIAAI provides primary health, aged care, housing and youth services to the Aboriginal community on Flinders Island.

Ms Roughley said the intention of the funding was to add an incentive to potential employees to live in the same place they work.

"This has opened up an opportunity for staff and a whole new door to be able to advertise and promote for people to work here - one of the biggest things here is housing and being able to attract staff," she said.

"We have struggled to get any kind of staff. It's left some staff doing more hours, and others doing multiple jobs."

Ms Roughley said it had been the first time the organisation applied for funding, and the money was a "step in the right direction" for services on Flinders Island - a place she said would be needing a focus for aged care in the next five to ten years.

The funding came as part of a $5.2 million federal program and would see accommodation built at Lady Barron in the island's south.

Bass Liberal MHR Bridget Archer said FIAAI was an important service on Flinders Island and it needed to be maintained.

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"This funding will not only provide improved accommodation options for staff, but it will also reinforce the important outcomes the association continues to deliver in an isolated region," she said.

Federal Senior Australians and Aged Care Services Minister, and Tasmanian Senator, Richard Colbeck said, "it is significantly more difficult for these services to upgrade equipment and buildings and maintain accommodation for staff".

"[The grant is] an important investment for services in remote and very remote locations across the country."

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