The Sydney-based provider has announced an upgrade of its 11-bed aged care home in the rural town of Bourke, 750km northwest of Sydney, and has acquired a neighbouring property for staff accommodation.
The $1.2 million redevelopment will expand the aged care home's capacity to 14 beds, and has been made possible thanks to more than $950,000 in Government funding through the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program.
The neighbouring property has been acquired independently and will be used for staff accommodation, providing a home for the live-in clinical supervisor.
"Bourke is our smallest home with 11 residents and we are super proud of the incredible impact our local team create in this wonderful regional setting," said Whiddon CEO Chris Mamarelis.
"This expansion is about strengthening access to aged care in Bourke and supporting people to stay in their community as they age," he told the Daily Liberal.
The refurbishment will include upgrades to resident rooms and ensuites, improvement to the kitchen, a courtyard shade structure, construction of a new men's shed, staff amenities, new furniture and improvements to the home's solar power and battery storage capacity.
Work is expected to begin in October 2025 and be completed in March 2026.
Whiddon has also recently acquired a second aged care home in Maclean, 660km northeast of Sydney, and completed a $13 million, two-year project upgrading three of its aged care homes, including updates to resident rooms and common areas at the Bourke home last year.
The organisation operates 19 aged care homes across NSW and Southern Queensland, 12 retirement villages in NSW, and delivers home care services in 11 regions in NSW and Southern Queensland.
