The Albanese Government is delivering more aged care beds where they are needed most, to ensure every older Australian can access the world-class aged care they deserve.
Last Friday (6 March), Labor announced that the Hunter will share in $115 million through the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP) to rapidly increase access to residential aged care – alongside Perth, Adelaide and the Illawarra.
An Expression of Interest process is encouraging interested providers to put forward proposals that will build and open more beds within two years to help address immediate delayed discharge pressures on hospitals, and deliver services that align with the National Aged Care Design Principles.
This latest injection will take funding through the ACCAP program to over $1 billion since 2022. Future ACCAP rounds will follow later this year to ensure the Government continues to kickstart projects in regional areas.
The process will be split into two phases, with the first EOI, covering Adelaide and Illawarra, to open on Friday, 13 March and the second to focus on Perth and the Hunter to follow. Interested providers will have six weeks from opening to submit their EOI.
EOI documents, including instructions on how to participate, will be available on GrantConnect.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing, Mark Butler MP:
“The Albanese Government is making record investments to increase the supply of aged care beds in the system to ensure every older Australian gets the dignity of care and support they deserve.”
“We know we face a big challenge with increasing bed capacity in our health and aged care systems, and that is why we’re investing so strongly to increase supply as quickly as possible.”
“Our Government has already invested $1 billion in expanding bed capacity in the aged care system and this latest round of funding will increase supply in select hotspots like the Hunter.”
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, Sam Rae MP:
“The Albanese Government is on a mission to deliver more beds, faster and in the places they are most needed – so older Australians and their loved ones have confidence that they can be cared for with dignity, when they need it.”
“We know the Hunter needs more aged care capacity quickly – and we won’t waste a moment getting on with funding projects that can uplift supply and get more older Australians into care faster.”
“We want every older Australian to access the care they need and get it sooner and closer to home. That’s exactly what this round is aimed at doing – improving access as fast as possible.”
“We’ve already invested $1 billion in aged care capital through ACCAP – more than any previous government, and we’ll continue to invest in aged care supply as our ageing population grows.”
Quotes attributable to Hon Pat Conroy MP, Federal Member for Shortland:
“The Albanese Government is making record investments to increase the supply of aged care beds in Lake Macquarie and the Hunter. This investment is helping ensure that older Australians are treated with the dignity, care and support they deserve.”
“When speaking with people from Shortland, one of the issues people raise with me most is the quality of aged care. After almost a decade of neglect by the previous Liberal Governments, investments like last Friday’s (6 March) show that we’re delivering the aged care investments to communities who need it most.”
“The Albanese Government knows that regions like Lake Macquarie and the Hunter need more aged care capacity, that’s why we are working to increase supply as quickly as possible. We will continue to make important investments in aged care as our ageing population grows.”