When WA Not For Profit retirement living and residential aged care provider Bethanie first began planning an aged care facility on land outside of Bunbury, they couldn’t get the numbers to stack up.
Chris How, Chief Executive Officer at Bethanie, told The SOURCE, that forecasts indicated there was an undersupply of aged care beds in southwestern WA but anticipated low household income and house prices.
Bethanie’s homes in the area have an “above average proportion of concessional residents,” he said.
“While the business case for the Dalyellup development did not achieve Bethanie’s financial requirements, when viewed through the lens of social contribution and mission, there was a compelling case for the project,” Chris said.
Bethanie decided to make a “social contribution” in the vicinity of $250,000 per annum to make the business case viable.
Bethanie Dalyellup opened in Bunbury, 175km south of Perth, in March 2023.
The SOURCE: Providers often talk about ‘mission’. Bethanie has put a price on it.
