Rosie Fitzgerald sounds alarm on urgency of Kilkivan aged care plan

A Kilkivan aged care champion is urging the region’s three tiers of government for more action amid concerns a much-needed project is at risk.

Kilkivan aged care champion Rosie Fitzgerald is urging the region’s three tiers of governments for more action amid concerns the much-needed project is at risk of stalling.

Kilkivan aged care champion Rosie Fitzgerald is urging the region’s three tiers of government for more action amid concerns the much-needed project is at risk of stalling.

Rosie Fitzgerald has been fighting to deliver the Kilkivan and District Community Care Association Inc’s plan for more than five years, a proposal powered on in 2022 following a landmark report into aged care in the township, about 50km west of Gympie.

The plan includes a social hub and temporary housing.

Progress has so far including an interest free loan to help with the purchase of an old church and the bequest of a deceased estate which will go to auction later this year.

The group had lodged an application in partnership to apply for millions of dollars in funding for a feasibility study through the federal government’s Regional Precincts and Partnerships Program in October 2024.

But Ms Fitzgerald was now worried the KDCCAI’s vision would ultimately stall despite this strong community support, and risking further harm to the people who already needed the project now.

Sylvia McLoughlin and Rosie Fitzgerald have been outspoken in their fight to bring quality in-home aged care to Kilkivan.

“Ever since the university’s application last October … people had died and left the district,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

“There has been such strong support locally, but beyond local there’s no help,” she said.

She was concerned she had heard no word since, although it is understood final decision on the application may not be made until as late as July.

Mr Hartwig said the council was working to support Ms Fitzgerald’s and the KDCCAI’s vision.

“While this is not part of Council’s core business, we’ve gone above and beyond to support Kilkivan & District Community Care Inc. and have always been willing to work with them in good faith,” Mr Hartwig said.

“We’ve made land available, supported grant applications, provided facilities, and continue to meet regularly.

“(The) council remains committed to working together to help achieve positive outcomes for the Kilkivan community.”

The council’s involvement with the project included committing in principle to providing vacant blocks in November 2023, making a grant application under the Federal Government Housing Investment Fund, and assisting with the UniSC grant lodged in October 2024.

The KDCCAI withdrew the HIF application in late 2023 amid concerns over the strict criteria required.

Progress has so far including an interest free loan to help with the purchase of an old church at Kilkivan and the bequest of a deceased estate which will go to auction later this year.

A storage shed has been provided to the KDCCAI until 2027 for storage of the group’s bus.

Further meetings with the group are planned.

Newly re-elected Wide Bay LNP MP Llew O’Brien said he met with Ms Fitzgerald early in 2025 and wrote in support for the UniSC application.

Aged care is primarily the responsibility of the federal government.

“One of the biggest disappointments about the Albanese Labor Government’s first term in office is that cancelled $10 billion of regional development funding and has since offered little to replace it,” Mr O’Brien said.

“Added to this is that Federal elections tend to slow things down in Canberra when departments go into caretaker mode during the election campaign period through until the time that the new ministry is sworn in by the Governor-General, so that may have slowed down the assessment of USC’s application for funding for a planning study.”

Nanango MP Deb Frecklington said the LNP state government was committed to “restoring the original purpose” of the HIF in “delivering new homes for Queenslanders and addressing the housing supply shortage with real, practical solutions”.

“I will continue to strongly support the Kilkivan & District Aged Care Association and will work to ensure that the full capacity of the State Government is behind their efforts to serve our community’s older residents.