Noosacare Carramar applies to build one bedroom homes for staff amid rental crisis

An aged care home is building workers’ accommodation to combat a growing concern that staff can’t afford to rent in or near Noosa Heads.

A single mother of two who holds the hands of others during their final breaths is facing the prospect of being priced out of the market as rental properties move further out of reach.

NoosaCare Carramar personal carer Lizbeth Tortora is one of more than hundreds of essential workers at the aged care facility struggling to live and work in the area amid the housing market and rental crisis and faces being price out of the region.

Attracting staff who can afford the median rental price of $750 has become so difficult the company is preparing to spend millions on building workers’ accommodation at neighbouring properties.

Ms Tortora’s rent for her Noosaville property was increased from $495 to $600 when the lease was renewed in May.

She said most of her pay was spent on rent and she had to cut back to be able to afford essentials like groceries and fuel.

“This is a fantastic place to work and I genuinely know that it would break my heart to have to start again somewhere else,” she said.

“As a single mum it was tricky enough for $495 … I am terrified that my next lease is going to be similar when it’s up.”

Median rental prices for three-bedroom homes at Noosa Heads and Noosaville increased from $520 in April – June 2020 to $750 during the same period this year.

Tewantin had an increase from $487 to $600.

Personal carer and single mother of two Lizbeth Tortora had her rent increase from $495 to $600 earlier this year.

“I live in Noosaville but because it has Noosa at the start of it there’s this general consensus that it’s going to be more expensive,” Ms Tortora said.

“But there’s a lot of single income families doing it really tough. “

Chief executive officer Megan D’Elton said the company struggled to attract staff during the Covid-19 pandemic but those challenges were made worse as rental prices increased.

“We had a couple from Stanthorpe, a nurse and personal carer, who were going to move here to work with us but they looked at the rentals and couldn’t afford it,” she said.

“We realised it’s not only affecting people from moving within Queensland but our staff were also struggling.

“Aged care staff do a fantastic job but they’re not acknowledged enough to be paid appropriate rates.”

Ms D’Elton put the idea to the board to build low-cost rentals on land they owned next to the Cooroy Noosa Road, Tewantin, site.

NoosaCare Carramar CEO Megan D'Elton put forward the suggestion to build small homes near the aged care facility for staff to rent.

The company is awaiting Noosa Council approval for two one-bedroom homes to be rented out for up to five years.

Councillor Brian Stockwell expected to see more similar development applications in the future.

“This isn’t the only establishment struggling to retain staff because staff are losing their leases and can’t find something else,” he said.

“A lot of businesses will consider this where providing onsite worker accommodation is suitable.”

It is on top of a four-bedroom home the company also rents out.

“It would be dedicated to staff and their families,” Ms D’Elton said.

She said it was a way to help address the housing issue in the short term and help staff.

Ms D’Elton said they also encouraged staff to advertise if they were looking for a rental or if they had a room available.

“This is something we can do right now while we plan for other measures in the future,” she said.

“We’re also trying to think outside the box to attract people to change industries and come to aged care.

“It’s a fantastic industry, my staff make a difference everyday and we’re trying to attract nurses, personal carers, cleaners and caterers.”

The two-bedroom homes were expected to cost about $100,000 but development costs on the blocks would be in the millions.

Originally published as Noosacare Carramar applies to build one bedroom homes for staff amid rental crisis