The Minister for Aged Care and Sport, Anika Wells, announced the grant to the Not For Profit aged care provider at the facility in Unanderra, Wollongong, in the Shoalhaven region about 100km south of Sydney on Thursday.
The Shoalhaven is experiencing extreme aged care bed shortages. In July, The Weekly SOURCE reported that on any given day between 90 and 120 hospital patients in the region should be in an aged care home.
IRT Group's Marco Polo Unanderra is comprised of two buildings: Cordeaux Lodge which is in operation; and a decommissioned building which is named St Lukes and St Johns.
The funding will be used to bring 48 beds (including 18 for memory support) on line in St Lukes and St Johns (48 additional beds for the region) and to refurbish Cordeaux Lodge (no additional beds).
“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 Minister said.
The grant is part of the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP), which will be worth up to $605.7 million in total until 30 June 2027. From 2027-28 onwards, the ACCAP will make at least $161 million available annually.
In May, the Government announced $134.9 million in capital grant funding under the ACCAP to support 76 projects around the country, mostly in outer regional and remote communities.
