Govt grant provides aged care facility’s extension

A 47-bed aged care facility in the central north of Tasmania will be able to expand, thanks to an Australian Government grant.

Aged Care Deloraine’s Grenoch aged care facility, in the township of Deloraine, central north Tasmania, has been awarded an $18 million Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP) grant to build a new wing with an additional 40 aged care beds.

The extension will adjoin the original facility, and be built on an adjacent parcel of land. The grant is expected to fully cover the project’s costs.

Nadine Ozols, CEO of Aged Care Deloraine, told The Weekly SOURCE: “As a small rural Not For Profit we are very much reliant on grants to undertake such works.”

Aged Care Deloraine reported an operating deficit of $1.3 million in FY25 (after a deficit of $420,991 in FY24). However, including non-operating items, such as donations and capital grants, the operator reported a net surplus of $1.4 million ($1.9 million surplus previously).

Completion set for 2029

The first sod is expected to be turned later this year with the build set to take approximately three years, putting completion at 2029.

Nadine said there is currently a waiting list of four or five people for Aged Care Deloraine, and beds are expected to fill quickly once the project is complete.

Complementing the additional beds will be the addition of spaces for allied health services, a consulting room for the GP, cinema, gym, hydrotherapy pool, and common areas for residents to gather.

Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing Rebecca White said: “For us as the Federal Government, we’re just so pleased to be able to partner with really fantastic organisations like this one to be able to provide more options for older Tasmanians to age in the communities where they’ve lived their whole lives.

“That’s what matters the most. It’s about making sure that we invest in facilities that are going to be able to help people remain in their communities, remain close to their families, and have access to the best infrastructure, supported through the best services.”

At a project cost of around $450,000 per bed, the project is on par with average build costs around the country. However, some private operators, such as Arcare Aged Care, owned by builder Knowles Group, are able to build for considerably lower cost.