Anglican Care Receives Major Federal Funding Boost

Anglican Care has announced it will proceed with a state-of-the-art residential aged care home in Gloucester following the successful bid to obtain $8 million Federal Government funding. The funding injection comes from the Building Better Regions Fund (BBRF) – an initiative of the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science to create jobs, drive economic growth and build stronger regional communities.

The project will see the construction of a community village providing a range of living environments, care, support and choice for seniors in Gloucester and surrounding areas as far as Walcha and the southern New England and western Mid Coast regions.

Developed on a 3,240 metre squared site in Clement Street Gloucester, stage one of the development will feature  a residential aged care home with single rooms with ensuites, a large multi-purpose area to facilitate resident and community activities, events and lifestyle programs. It will also include three lounge areas, three dining rooms, a reception area, hairdresser, allied health and therapy room and administration.

Anglican Care CEO Mr Colin Osborne said the grant from the BBRF is an exciting outcome for the people of Gloucester and for Anglican Care.

“Gloucester is recognised as having one of the highest proportions of people over the age of 65 in NSW, with 28.4% compared to the state overage of 15.7%. The only residential aged care currently in the Gloucester area is delivered from relatively older buildings within Gloucester Hospital which do not facilitate the delivery of contemporary aged care services,” Mr Osborne said.

“This is a great outcome. Since 2015 we have been working with Hunter New England Local Health District, the Council and Local Member to review aged care services in the Mid North Coast and this development will instil confidence in the community that they can remain in the area and live very comfortably in their retirement years.”

The development will have significant economic stimulus in the Gloucester region through the utilisation of local trades, resources and skills through the employment of health professions, tradespeople, administration staff, gardeners and entertainers. Anglican Care also aims to create long-term reciprocal relationships that will be essential to ensure the residential aged care facility environment is maintained to a high standard.

Stage one of the project is likely to commence in the first quarter of 2019 and will take approximately 15 months to develop. A second stage featuring retirement living villas and a community centre is expected to follow the completion of stage one.

Find out more about Anglican Care.