Mackay's share of $288m aged care funding

See how many aged care beds were allocated for Mackay in major funding announcement

Mackay will get 68 new places for aged care facilities with new funding. Picture: Contributed

MACKAY will benefit from $288 million in Federal Government funding for aged care.

Aged Care minister Ken Wyatt announced the funding today. This will deliver 68 new places for Mackay out of 4289 aged care places funded in state-wide.

Queensland has been given more funding and beds than any other state or territory.

The Morrison government will also give Queensland nursing homes $11 million in grants to use for renovations, extensions, new kitchens, security upgrades and fire protection systems.

The extra funding aims to reduce waiting lists for aged care, as thousands of elderly Queenslanders are waiting in hospitals for nursing home beds.

Nationally, 13,400 new places in nursing homes will cost almost $1 billion a year - $907 million in day-to-day care costs and $60 million in capital grants.

Queensland has won the lion's share of the extra federal funding as it the most decentralised state, with half the population living outside Brisbane.

Mr Wyatt said the number of new beds for regional areas had nearly doubled since the previous federal funding round two years ago.

"I am passionate about ensuring all Australians have access to quality aged care service, regardless of where they live,'' he said yesterday.

"(This funding) will help people receive the care they require as close as possible to the communities they know and love.''

Originally published as Mackay's share of $288m aged care funding