Commonwealth locks in $60m investment as expressions of interest open for Darwin’s future 120-bed aged care facility
The Commonwealth has opened up bids for a major residential project in Darwin, allowing older Territorians to escape the hospital limbo caused by the chronic lack of aged care beds.
The Federal Government has set a three year construction deadline as it opens up bids for a future 120-bed Darwin aged care facility.
On Thursday the Commonwealth opened up expressions of interest to build a promised new NT residential care facility to provide relief for older Territorians caught in hospital limbo due to a chronic shortage of aged care beds.
For years health experts and aged care advocates have warned the lack of available aged care beds has resulted in older Territorians being unable to be safely discharged from hospital.
In the latest NT Health annual report Chief Executive Chris Hosking said every day there were up to 80 patients eligible for residential care who had “nowhere to go, as there are simply no aged care beds available”.
NT Health Minister Steve Edgington told estimates in June keeping aged care patients in hospital cost the healthcare system around $40m a year.
Federal Aged Care and Seniors Minister Sam Rae said the promised 120-bed facility would alleviate some of this pressure, with the Commonwealth contributing up to $60m to the project through the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program.
“This new home will take a great deal of pressure off local hospitals and those experiencing delayed discharge and give more First Nations elders access to culturally safe care that allows them to stay close to their families and connection to Country,” Mr Rae said.
He said the latest EOI round built on almost $40m in funding rolled out to NT aged care providers in the past month.
“We’re on a mission to boost the availability of aged care in the Northern Territory,” Mr Rae said.
The new Federal Government EOI has called for applications from experienced residential care providers with a track record of delivering “high-quality care and large-scale infrastructure projects”.
Potential applicants will be asked to prove they can retain and attract workers, provide a Memory Support Unit and deliver services for older people with higher care and complex needs, as well as provide culturally safe residential aged care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The EOI states it expects the new build to be completed within 18 to 36 months of funding, development and building approvals.
The NT Government has offered up land next to Palmerston Regional Hospital at no cost, but applicants are able to pitch locations across the Greater Darwin region “where funded by the provider”.
Proposals that exceed the $60m government investment will be required to co-contribute the funding to cover the shortfall.
The tender coincides with the start of the new Aged Care Act on November 1, which strengthened quality standards, gave greater powers to the Quality and Safety Commissioner and rolled out a new ‘Support at Home’ program in response to the 2021 Aged Care Royal Commission’s findings.
The Territory has the highest rates of demand for aged care beds in the country, with just 559 beds recording a 92 per cent occupancy rate in Just 2024, according to the Productivity Commission.
Solomon MP Luke Gosling, who campaigned on securing the 120-bed facility, called on local organisations to put in their bids.
“This $60 million investment delivers on our election commitment to expand aged care access in the Territory, helping more senior Territorians stay in Darwin and Palmerston, close to family and community, with the quality care they deserve,” Mr Gosling said.
Expressions of interest close on Thursday November 27, with the results to be confirmed just before Christmas on December 23.
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Originally published as Commonwealth locks in $60m investment as expressions of interest open for Darwin’s future 120-bed aged care facility
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