Federal Government Announces $50,000 Prize Competition for Innovative Aged Care Home Designs

The federal government has unveiled an exciting competition in which architects can submit designs for aged care homes to put the new National Aged Care Design Principles and Guidelines to the test. They have the opportunity to vie for a prize of $50,000.

The competition, known as 'Reimagining Where We Live,' is open to design entries for both metropolitan and regional locations that adhere to the principles recommended by the Aged Care Royal Commission:

1. Enable the person: To support people living in a place that maintains their health, wellbeing and sense of identity.
2. Cultivate a home: Create a familiar environment in which people have privacy, control and a sense of belonging.
3. Access the outdoors: To support people seeing, accessing and spending time outdoors in contact with nature.
4. Connect with community: To encourage people to connect with family, friends and community, continuing to participate in meaningful ways.

These principles are aimed at improving the quality of life for aged care residents by shifting the focus from mere 'care delivery' to enhancing the overall 'living experience' within these homes.

The guidelines offer specific recommendations, such as reducing clutter, employing simple flooring and wallpaper patterns, and limiting each section of a home to a maximum of 15 residents to cater to the diverse needs of elderly individuals.

The competition will award a $50,000 prize to the top design in the metropolitan category and another $50,000 to the top design in the regional category, with second-place winners in each category receiving $20,000.

Minister for Aged Care, Anika Wells, expressed the hope that this competition will serve as a litmus test for the effectiveness of these guidelines in fostering innovative aged care home designs that are better suited to the needs of future generations.

"Design has the potential to vastly improve quality of life for older people living in aged care homes – as well as the working environments of the people who care for them," the minister said.

"To achieve this, design must be grounded in the experiences of people who live in aged care homes and evidence for how best to mitigate the challenges that lead them to seek residential care."

Endorsed by the Australian Institute of Architects and the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects, entries for this competition will close at 12pm/noon (AEDT) on Friday 15^th December.

Click here to find out more about
Reimagining Where We Live

How can I find a residential aged care home near me?

Residential aged care homes are located throughout Australia. To begin your search, simply click on your state below and then enter in your desired suburb (or the name of the aged care provider if you already have a home in mind):

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