Applications are open for the next round of residential aged care places with Queensland set to pick up the largest share of new bed licences.
As previously announced, the 2018-19 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR) includes 13,500 residential care places, 775 short-term restorative care places, $60 million in capital grants and a focus on meeting the needs of seniors living in rural, regional and remote locations.
The largest share of new places has been set aside for Queensland followed by New South Wales then Western Australia.
Minister for Aged Care Ken Wyatt said the Turnbull Government was committed to improving access to residential aged care for people living in regional, rural and remote areas when opening the round on Monday.
“To help [older people] continue to live in the communities they know and love, suitable applications targeting these areas will be prioritised.
“Of course, with the significant number of residential aged care places on offer, applications from our cities are still encouraged, particularly those looking to address areas of high need and meet the diverse range of care required,” he said.
Minister Wyatt said the additional STRC places, which aimed to slow or reverse functional decline by providing time-limited, reablement care with wraparound services, would help older Australians get back on their feet.
The nominal allocation of places in the 2018-19 ACAR is:
| State | Residential Care | Short-term restorative care | Total | ||
| NSW | 3,349 | 235 | 3,584 | ||
| VIC | 1,415 | 195 | 1,610 | ||
| QLD | 4,289 | 165 | 4,454 | ||
| WA | 3,295 | 75 | 3,370 | ||
| SA | 431 | 43 | 474 | ||
| TAS | 212 | 22 | 234 | ||
| ACT | 360 | 20 | 380 | ||
| NT | 149 | 20 | 169 | ||
| Total | 13,500 | 775 | 14,275 | ||
The 2018-19 ACAR application period is open for six weeks until 10 August.
See the Department of Health’s website here for more information.
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