It was in February 2022 that Southern Cross Care NSW & ACT closed its Currawarna aged care home in Bombala, 485km south of Sydney’s CBD, citing staff shortages.

Now with the community raising more than $300,000 and, with $800,000 promised from the NSW Government, Currawarna Assisted Living has enough operating capital to start.

The Board of Currawarna Assisted Living Ltd (CALL) has begun the process of engaging staff for the reopening of the facility, with applications being received. CALL will conduct a two-stage recruitment process, with the initial stage concentrating on the appointment of a suitably qualified Facility Manager.

CALL Chairman Keith Campbell said the business plan was with Ernst and Young and the facility is being prepared for reopening, pending the transfer of the property title from the Catholic Diocese to CALL.

The business plan indicated the accommodation cost at Currawarna Assisted Living would be about $51,000 per person per year. People receiving Home Care Packages would be able to use that subsidy to pay for their accommodation.

The proposed Assisted Living Facility would deliver: 

• Mini Apartments or Individual Room and ensuites, 
• Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner supplied, 
• Utilities (electricity, heating, water), 
• Access to communal rooms and resident organised social activities, 
• Linen (complete change weekly), 
• Personal laundry (access to communal laundry so individuals or their relatives may do their own washing or laundry service, provided on a ‘user pays’ basis), 
• Weekly Room Cleaning, 
• Care staff onsite from 6am to 8pm, and 
• Care staff on call overnight, in house.