Barwon Health’s Percy Baxter lodges to close next month

A union is calling on the state government to stop the closure of Percy Baxter lodges, an aged care facility in North Geelong which is set to shut on June 30.

Percy Baxter lodges will close next month.

A union is calling on the state government to stop the closure of Percy Baxter lodges, an aged care facility in North Geelong which is set to shut on June 30.

Located at Barwon Health’s McKellar Centre site, the lodges provide care to elderly people with low needs.

The facility was running at a fraction of capacity with just 15 residents and it’s understood of the five lodges, only one housed people.

Barwon Health chief executive Frances Diver confirmed that on Friday, the organisation advised residents, their families and staff that the facility would permanently close on June 30.

“The Percy Baxter lodges at the McKellar Centre are now more than 50 years old and were significantly damaged by flooding in January 2023,” she said.

Ms Diver said Barwon Health would be working closely with residents and their families to source and co-ordinate accommodation in one of the service’s other facilities or alternative providers in the region.

Barwon Health chief executive Frances Diver. Picture: Alan Barber

Health Workers Union secretary Diana Asmar said there was potential for up to 26 job losses, and Geelong could lose public-sector aged care facilities.

But Ms Diver said there were no associated job losses and all staff impacted by this decision would be offered alternative roles within the organisation.

Ms Diver said Barwon Health had a long history in the provision of residential aged care and was committed to continuing to providing it into the future.

“No decision has been made on the future of the Percy Baxter lodge site, and we’ll work closely with the Victorian Government to assess the future needs of aged care in the Geelong region, and the requirements of the site,” she said.

Ms Asmar urged the state government to commit resources to upgrading outdated infrastructure at Percy Baxter lodges to make them operational in the long-term and provide attractive options for potential future residents.

Health Workers union Secretary Diana Asmar.

“We understand that capital infrastructure will need to be refurbished, or replaced, in order for the services to remain, but we believe strongly that every dollar spent on doing so will result in better outcomes for the Geelong community,” she said.

She said she had written to the Health Minister and Premier, asking that they stop this closure and invest in Percy Baxter lodges.

A state government spokesman said Barwon Health made the difficult closure decision following flooding damage and a decline in occupancy.

“We are working with Barwon Health to determine the future needs of aged care in the Geelong region,” he said.

“Since 2014 we’ve invested more than $618m to build, upgrade and modernise our public sector aged care services.”

It’s understood there are no further changes planned for Barwon Health’s residential aged care services with operations continuing as normal at its other facilities.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation Victorian branch secretary Lisa Fitzpatrick said ANMF would support its members through this difficult closure and redeployment if that’s what they chose.

“It will be a challenging time for the 15 residents, and their families, and the nurses and personal care workers who care for them,” she said.

She said the building had passed its use-by date and ANMF understood the reasons for the decision to close.

“ANMF welcomes the review to assess the level of public sector aged care beds in the region and look forward to contributing to this process,” she said.

“We have the largest public aged care sector in the country ... and it’s a legacy we should all protect.”

Earlier this year Ms Fitzpatrick said ANMF had been made aware that amenities at Percy Baxter lodges, originally a low-care hostel, were dated and impacted by flooding.

Graham Rawlins recently said he did not want to leave the lodges.

“Barwon Health has confirmed to ANMF it has made a submission for state government funding to rebuild and expand this facility,” she said.

Last month residents voiced concerns about potentially being forced to move.

“We want to live here, we don’t want to move,” Graham Rawlins said.

It’s understood the lodges have not taken on new residents for some time.

Originally published as Barwon Health’s Percy Baxter lodges to close next month