The Hon Anika Wells MP

Minister for Aged Care

Minister for Sport

Dan Repacholi MP

Federal Member for Hunter

MEDIA RELEASE

6 December 2024

$9.5million to improve aged care home in the Hunter

The Albanese Government is investing $9,539,675 to support Merton Living to construct a new 30-bed facility in Denman in the Hunter electorate.

Merton Living is one of 52 infrastructure projects funded through Round 2 of the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP).

ACCAP Round 2 represents a $250 million investment from the Albanese Government to upgrade or build new aged care homes outside of major cities and enhance cultural care for older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

52 projects will receive funding to deliver more than 400 additional beds and provide for higher needs like dementia care. The ACCAP grants will also directly support not-for-profit providers and small community-based operators like Meron Living to modernise their aged care homes and create employment opportunities.

$50 million is allocated specifically to support older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders, including:

• $25 million to support 5 Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to deliver quality care under the National Aboriginal and Flexible Aged Care Program across regional and remote Australia
• $25 million to build a new 100-bed aged care home for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in Perth, a first of its kind for this region.

This $250 investment builds on the $134.9 million allocated in Round 1 to support 76 infrastructure projects, mostly in rural and remote locations.

The Albanese Government recently committed an additional $300 million to ACCAP over 3 years as part of the historic aged care reforms announced in September.

For more information about the ACCAP grants and funded projects, visit: www.health.gov.au/accap

Quotes attributable to Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells: 

“Older Australians deserve access to safe and quality aged care services—regardless of where they live.

“Round 2 of ACCAP will help rural and remote aged care providers like Merton Living to deliver appropriate cultural care and create more home-like environments, with comfortable and modern amenities, more liveable spaces and fewer shared rooms.

“The Albanese Government continues to invest grant funding at unprecedented levels to support aged care providers outside of major cities, along with those that deliver specialist services.”

Quotes attributable to Dan Repacholi MP:

“This funding is great news for the Hunter electorate. Merton Living will support older locals to access quality aged care services while remaining close to their families and cultural connections.

“This significant investment demonstrates the Albanese Government’s commitment to improving aged care in rural and remote Australia and Aboriginal and for Torres Strait Islander communities.

“Older people play such an important role in our communities and it’s essential they are provided the very best care and support.”

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