The Andrews Labor Government is getting on with the largest ever revamp of public aged care homes in metropolitan Melbourne.
Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley today announced a new $55.57 million state-of-the-art public aged care facility at St George’s Hospital in Kew will be the first step in a new plan to modernise the residential public aged care sector.
Upon being elected, the Labor Government immediately stopped the former Government’s sell-off of public aged care beds in metropolitan Melbourne.
Now we are building for the future with the Victorian Budget 2016/17 delivering the biggest investment for public sector residential aged care in metropolitan Melbourne in over a decade.
This significant capital investment will enable a 90-bed public aged care residential facility to be built at St George’s Hospital that will be designed to deliver best practice person-centred care. It will also include aged persons’ mental health beds. The Budget also delivers a further $2 million for minor works at other metropolitan facilities.
Consultants have been recently appointed to kick start planning works which will involve drafting architectural designs and carrying out extensive consultation with key stakeholders, the local community and representatives from St Vincent’s Health, to ensure it can deliver the very best care into the future.
This new investment shows the Labor Government’s commitment to secure the future of public aged care through modernising out-dated public aged care homes with a larger, modern and purpose-built facility.
Not only will this investment secure the future of this important sector, staff and residents will benefit significantly from better and safer living and working conditions that will improve care and quality of life.
The Labor Government recognises that public aged care services play a vital role in supporting the most vulnerable older Victorians who need specialist care for complex physical or mental health needs.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Housing, Disability and Ageing Martin Foley
“We have stopped the Liberal’s sell-off of aged care places in metropolitan Melbourne as soon as we were elected.”
“Now, after four years of neglect under the Liberals, public aged care has a bright future ahead thanks to our record investment and bold vision to modernise the sector.”
“The new facility at St George’s Hospital is the first step in our modernisation plan that will ensure families can access the highest quality public aged care they deserve in Melbourne for many generations to come.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020