Media Release

The Victorian Government through the Department of Human Services funds the service which is carried out by Archicentre, the building advisory service of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects.

Victoria is one of the few States that funds free health and safety home inspections for its older, disabled or those caring for someone with a disability. As a result Victorian home-owners are more likely to be able to live safely and independently in their homes for longer. On average a million dollars a year is spent on this unique inspection service.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the direct cost to the nation's health system to help people aged 65 years and over recover from falls was $566 million. It costs $555 a day to keep an older person in a Victorian hospital. The lifetime cost of fall injuries for Victorians aged 65 years and older is estimated at $199.3 million annually.

The Home Safety Inspection provides creative and practical solutions to make the homes safe for the elderly and the disabled enabling them to live independently as long as possible in their own homes where they can enjoy their gardens.

CEO of the Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria, Steven Potts, said, "The aim of the program provided a focus on the health and therapeutic benefits associated with gardening for the elderly and linking it to water wise gardening practices. The Nursery & Garden Industry Victoria will be providing plants from over sixty seven outlets throughout Victoria."