HON ANIKA WELLS MP
MINISTER FOR AGED  CARE
MINISTER FOR SPORT

ALISON BYRNES MP
MEMBER FOR CUNNINGHAM

The Albanese Government has allocated $16.5 million in grant funding to benefit older Australians in Illawarra and make more aged care beds available in the region.

The grant is being provided to the Illawarra Retirement Trust (IRT) to support the upgrade of its Marco Polo Aged Care Centre in Unanderra, Wollongong.

This upgrade will support IRT to meet the needs of older people in the local community with higher acuity and dementia and help to reduce the number of long-stay older patients in local hospitals.

The grant-funded works will include:

• renovation and refurbishment of one decommissioned residential aged care building to deliver 48 new single ensuite rooms - 18 of which will be part of a new memory support wing.
• upgrades to 52 bedrooms and ensuites, as well as a new dementia wing, in the ‘Cordeaux Lodge’ building to support improved amenity, safety and accessibility.

This upgrade is being funded under the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP).

Supporting an experienced, local provider like IRT to renovate and recommission existing and unused infrastructure will enable the delivery of more aged care beds more quickly.

The Australian Government also recently announced the allocation of $134.9 million in capital grant funding under the ACCAP to support 76 projects around the country, most located in outer regional and remote communities.

A further $200 million funding round was also created to support capital projects for aged care services in First Nations, regional, rural and remote communities.

 
Quotes attributable to Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells:

“An increase in the supply of residential aged care beds in the Illawarra is considered critical to assist in reducing the number of older patients in local hospitals awaiting discharge.

“The Albanese Government continues to fund a range of measures and initiatives under the $1.2 billion Strengthening Medicare package to grow and support the health workforce, reduce unnecessary presentations to emergency departments, and support older Australians through earlier discharge from hospital.

“The Government is investing in aged care so older Australians can better access services in the community they know and love.

Quotes attributable to Member for Cunningham, Alison Byrnes:

“The Albanese Labor Government is committed to supporting older Australians and those that care for them, here in the Illawarra.

“Unlocking an additional 48 beds in the region by upgrading existing infrastructure will help minimise unnecessary lengthy stays in hospital.

“This funding builds on investments already made by the Federal Government, including two aged care worker pay rises, a Medicare Urgent Care Centre in Corrimal, an 8-place Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP) Unit at Hammondcare Horsley, and 35 transition care places jointly funded with the Minns Labor Government.”