One of Australia's largest Not For Profit healthcare providers will close its residential aged care home Calvary Bonbeach, located 31km southeast of Melbourne’s CBD, effective 31 May 2024.

At the same time, the doors of a modernised new wing at Calvary George Vowell (pictured above) will open at Mount Eliza, 42km south east of the CBD, only about 15km from Bonbeach. The Calvary George Vowell will have an additional 19 beds and reflects contemporary aged care standards.

All 49 residents will move to other homes with better facilities across the Calvary network, including Calvary George Vowell, or to other aged care providers.

The Bonbeach home, which has mainly shared bedrooms and bathrooms, no longer meets the expectations of contemporary consumers, Calvary Health Care said in a statement.

The decision to close was "very difficult", said Bryan McLoughlin (pictured right), Calvary Health Care’s Acting Regional Chief Executive for Victoria. However, the cost of modernising the home and disruption to residents was considered to be too great.

Calvary Bonbeach's staff will be offered redeployment across Calvary’s 30 other Victorian in the same mix as the relocated residents.

Once all residents and staff have been relocated, Calvary will sell the Bonbeach property, using the proceeds to improve existing facilities and for new opportunities.

The Catholic healthcare organisation, which has operations Australia-wide, has been divesting sites as it pursues its new integrated care model. Calvary Health Care recently opened the $154 million Kooyong precinct, which includes the 32-bed Calvary Bethlehem Hospital, 69 retirement living apartments, and a residential aged care home on one site.