Melbourne home closes
Gracedale Manor closes two months after going into voluntary administration.
The Department of Health and Ageing is developing a support plans for the staff and residents of a Melbourne facility after the home’s administrators announced its closure.
The operator of Gracedale Manor, Kendalle Pty Ltd went into voluntary administration over two months ago.
At the time the home owed considerable debts to residents, staff, secured creditors and the Commonwealth Government.
The department will engage an experienced relocation consultant to provide personal assistance to the 56 residents of Gracedale Manor and their families.
Departmental case managers will also be available to provide further assistance.
Measures will also be taken to protect resident bonds and to ensure staff members receive their entitlements.
“This is a very serious situation,” said the Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot.
“Our main concerns are for the residents’ health, safety and wellbeing and for the staff working at the facility.
“Unfortunately closure of the home is the only option given the circumstances in this case but action is being taken to make sure that resident care is not compromised as a result.”
Kendalle and its former executives are being investigated by the administrators and details of the company’s collapse have been handed to the federal police, the Victorian Police, the Australian Tax Office and the Australian Securities and Investment Commission.
“If Kendalle’s directors are found to have pursued profit at the expense of residents’ care, they will pay the penalty,” Mrs Elliot said.
