Australia’s largest residential aged care operator announces new build

More than five years after plans were first proposed, construction of a co-located aged care home at Brisbane’s The Clayfield retirement village is set to begin next month.

Private residential aged care operator Opal HealthCare has revealed that construction will begin in July on its planned 133-bed aged care home co-located within Aveo’s The Clayfield retirement village in Albion, 5km north of Brisbane’s CBD.

Paynters have been appointed as builders for the project, which is Opal HealthCare’s fifth with retirement living developer and operator Aveo. Opal HealthCare has also built co-located homes with Keyton and Levande.

Clayfield Terrace Care Community, as the new home will be called, is expected to open in mid- to late 2028. Opal HealthCare hosted a meeting with residents of The Clayfield earlier this month to share the good news, and will hold regular progress updates.

Private operators leading aged care builds

With demands for aged care beds exceeding supply, private operators are often at the forefront of delivering new homes, an Opal spokesperson told The Weekly SOURCE.

Private aged care operators only operate about 38% of all aged care homes in Australia, while Not For Profits operate around 59%.

But with 146 homes and more in the pipeline, Opal HealthCare is one of only a handful of operators, with Rockpool Aged Care, Estia Heath, and Arcare Aged Care – all private – adding to much-needed supply.

Queensland has more than 1,000 patients stranded in the State’s public hospitals waiting for aged care services, more than any other state.

The pressure is only likely to intensify. The Queensland Government anticipates the number of people living in Brisbane aged over 65 will almost double within 20 years.

Opal HealthCare is owned by equity investors Singapore-based G.K. Goh Holdings (50%) and Sydney firm Pacific Equity Partners (50%).