Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt made the announcement at the RSL Remembrance Village in Wagga Wagga as part of the Federal Government’s promise that this year’s Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR) will give special consideration to non-metropolitan areas.
The Government didn’t release any beds in 2017-18, but the Minister says this round is the largest ever with 13,500 aged care places and 775 restorative care places, plus $60 million in capital grants, to be provided.
In a sign the Government will make good on its pledge, 3,295 places have been allocated to Western Australia – just short of NSW’s 3,349 places though NSW has three times as many people.
WA is currently 3,499 places short of meeting the national target. Mr Wyatt has been working with the State’s Seniors and Ageing Minister Mick Murray to identify Crown land and unused land and attract East Coast aged care providers to build and run facilities in WA.
The ACAR application period will run for six weeks from 2 July to 10 August.
You can find more information here.
