Ageing Australia welcomes the Albanese Government’s latest commitment to build more aged care beds. The additional investment is another step towards increasing capacity in the aged care sector, as demand spirals.
Minister for Health, Disability, and Ageing, Mark Butler, and the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, Sam Rae, have announced $115m through the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACAPP).
Four areas will be targeted over two tranches. The Illawarra Region and Adelaide will be targeted in the first tranche, followed by The Hunter, and Perth.
Providers will be invited to submit proposals through an Expression of Interest process to build and open additional beds within two years. The intent of the grants is to help address immediate delayed discharge pressures on hospitals.
“We welcome any commitment that can help us build more beds quickly or bring beds back online,” Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson said.
“The real gains will come only if this is just the first step in the Federal Government’s plans. We have called consistently for an expansion in federal funding for new beds and while this announcement helps, it is clearly not the full solution. Not only do we need thousands more beds than this fund will deliver, several regions with enormous demand will miss out this time round, including Brisbane.”
“Australia’s population is rapidly ageing. Over the next 40 years those aged over 85 will triple, and we need to be ready.”
“State and federal governments know that we’re falling more and more behind, and that we’re reaching crisis point. We should be building about 10,000 beds a year, but last year we built only about 400.”
“Within the next few years, we will find ourselves in a situation where we literally cannot meet demand. Initiatives that aim to bring beds online in the short term will be critical to tackling this issue.”
This announcement by the Albanese Government follows recent commitments by South Australia and Western Australia to invest in more aged care beds to relieve pressure on hospitals.
Media contact: Najma Sambul 0499 106 957 or
About Ageing Australia:
Ageing Australia is the national organisation representing all providers of aged care and housing to older Australians
