Greek language students at La Trobe University have been given an unexpected gift in 2021 with the Andrews Labor Government providing a funding boost for new student scholarships.

Member for Northcote, Kat Theophanous, yesterday joined Vice Chancellor, Professor John Dewar AO and Professor Rhiannon Evans to announce $40,000 in funding for La Trobe’s Greek Language Program to establish ten one-off student scholarships in 2021.

Ms Theophanous worked in partnership with the University to design the proposal and secure funding from the Victorian Government. The scholarships are being provided as part of the celebrations underway in 2021 which mark the 200th Anniversary of Greek Independence.

READ MORE: Greek language program to continue at La Trobe

“What an incredible way to kick off the year. This is a great outcome for La Trobe students and the Greek Community, who have worked tirelessly to secure the survival of this valuable program,” Kat Theophanous, Labor Member for Northcote, said.

Scholarships will be offered in three groups, in line with levels of study in the program. Four will be provided to students entering their first year of studies, three to students entering their second year and three to students moving into their third year.

Each recipient will receive a $4,000 stipend to support their studies as they develop high level Greek language skills, critical to a range of sectors in Victoria including aged care, social services and education.

Last year, Kat Theophanous was part of a coalition of senior figures from the Greek community who worked constructively with La Trobe University to secure an agreement to retain the last tertiary level Modern Greek Language program in Victoria.  

“The cultural, linguistic and economic value of the Greek language to Victoria cannot be understated. These scholarships will help drive enrolments, while supporting students as they develop skills critical to the future of our state,” Ms Theophanous added.

The program had come under threat from impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, funding pressures and falling enrolments. The three-year agreement is supported by a substantive fundraising effort from the Greek Community in Victoria.

The scholarship funding announced yesterday is a key element in driving enrolment growth in the program, which will be critical to securing its long-term future.

“I’m deeply grateful to the Victorian Government for providing such generous support to our Modern Greek Language Program through these ten student scholarships,” Professor John Dewar AO, Vice-Chancellor at La Trobe University, said.

“We hope that the scholarships – in addition to support already committed by the Greek Community of Melbourne – will help drive enrolments, thereby ensuring the Program’s future survival and growth.”

Aged care queues have blown out to more than a year’s wait for nearly 100,000 elderly – and some risk dying before getting home help.

People too frail to feed or wash themselves are being forced to wait at least 12 months for care in their own home, despite getting the green light from government assessors for taxpayer-funded care.

New government data reveals that 95,831 Australians approved for a taxpayer-funded “home care package’’ (HCP) will need to wait at least 12 months for the service.

Wait times have blown out to more than a year for 97 per cent of elderly Australians in the aged care queue because demand is outstripping funding.

At the end of October, 99,268 Australians were in the queue for aged care after medical assessors deemed them to be in need of help to stay in their own homes.

They include 14,314 elderly people with “high care needs’’, who require constant nursing care and help to eat and shower.

NSW has the longest queue, with 32,660 people in line for home care – including 3403 with high care needs.

Victoria has the most vulnerable people waiting for care – with 27,094 people waiting for in-home care, including 4132 deemed “high need’’.

Queensland’s queue of 15,126 includes 1913 of the frailest people with high needs.

In South Australia, 10,578 people are waiting for home care, including 1374 with high care needs.

Tasmania has 2663 residents approved and waiting for in-home care, including 448 deemed “high need’’.

The Northern Territory has 421 people waiting for approved care, including 102 with high needs, and the ACT has 1047 people queued for care, including 244 requiring the highest level of care.

Western Australia has 9593 elderly residents waiting for pre-approved care, with 2682 in the high-care category.

Year-long queues have become the norm, despite the Morrison government pouring $2.4 billion into 33,000 extra home care packages over the next four years.

Council on the Ageing (COTA) chief executive Ian Yates yesterday warned that some Australians could die on the waiting list.

Newly appointed Aged Care Minister Greg Hunt will lead the government’s response to the Royal Commission, after the portfolio was elevated to cabinet during a reshuffle in December.