The head of one of Western Australia’s largest Not for Profit aged care providers has welcomed the State Budget – but says the investment in aged care feels “incremental, not transformational” amid the state’s booming economy.
"The reality on the ground is that these measures only begin to address the scale of need," Russell Bricknell (pictured above right) said. "Our sector is under intense pressure to meet complex care needs with fewer resources. Providers are closing beds, waitlists are growing and staff are burning out."
The Juniper CEO added the aged care sector will continue to urge the WA Government "to reframe aged care not as just a Commonwealth issue but a shared State responsibility."
The Western Australian Budget last Thursday contained several aged care measures, including $60.5 million over four years to establish Older Adult Care Hubs and expand the WA Virtual Emergency Department (WAVED).
Three new Older Adult Care Hubs were an election promise of the Cook Government, building on another already planned for Murdoch, 12km south of the Perth CBD.
The aim of the hubs is to reduce the time older patients spend in hospital, providing them with access to GPs and specialists, dementia care, and help navigating aged care and end-of-life care. WAVED is also aimed at increasing hospital capacity by improving access to care options in the community, and reducing unnecessary ED presentations.
At the end of 2024, 170 patients in WA hospitals were medically fit for discharge – but with aged care homes near full capacity, they had nowhere to go.
As promised in the election campaign, the WA Government also committed to expanding aged care bed capacity through low interest loans to aged care providers to support new builds and refurbishments.
"The design of the loan facility is underway with an estimated additional 500 concessional aged care beds aimed to alleviate pressure on the hospital system," the Budget paper states.
The WA Government also pledged $4.9 million over two years to deliver an additional 30 beds under the Time to Think program, bringing the total to 65 beds, providing short-term respite care for patients while they consider and plan for long-term care.