Top End home officially opens
Justine Elliot opened the Tiwi Gardens Lodge following the completion of a major extension.
The Minister for Ageing has officially opened the largest nursing home in the Northern Territory, following major extension work.
The Commonwealth Government contributed $3.4 million towards the $16.125 million upgrade of Masonic Homes’ Tiwi Gardens Lodge in Darwin.
The land for parts of the extension was provided by the Northern territory Government under a Crown Lease.
“This project is an example of the Federal and Territory Governments working together in a three-way partnership with an aged care provider to deliver more aged care places,” said the federal Minster for Ageing, Justine Elliot.
The Masonic Homes complex is expected to employ up to 57 staff, with 12 new jobs created as a result of the extension, including roles for care coordinators and enrolled nurses.
Masonic Homes estimates that the service would be injecting about $12 million a year into the Northern Territory economy.
At the launch Masonic Homes CEO, Doug Strain said his organisation was considering more aged care developments in Darwin with plans to build at Palmerston within the next five years.
The extension to Tiwi Gardens will accommodate 50 residents who have transferred from the Darwin Nursing Home and an additional 35 new aged care places, allocated through the aged care approvals round (ACAR).
The first 40 residents moved into the home in February.