Graeme Prior

Broad Construction has commenced building works at Hall & Prior’s $90 million planned community Karingal Green, a new aged care precinct set to provide 160 beds, health and wellness hubs, as well as research and training facilities.

A wave of investment in the WA aged care sector has continued, with Southern Plus opening a luxury care facility in the same week as Hall & Prior announced it would proceed with a $60 million redevelopment.

SPECIAL REPORT: WA is continuing to boast a strong aged care development pipeline, and the completion of multiple major developments has meant an increase in bed numbers for some providers.

Aged care and retirement living service providers are pushing ahead with property developments, but say COVID-19 could have a lasting impact on the sector.

The royal commission and the pandemic have not stemmed the pipeline of aged care developments but they could have a lasting impact on how care is delivered.

The aged care workforce will need to grow by 60 per cent in the next decade to meet demand, according to a report launched at a Business News breakfast this morning.

Hall & Prior has expanded its services to the South West with the acquisition of a 21-year lease from the Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup to manage aged care home Tuia Lodge.

An incentive program to encourage vaccination providers to give aged care workers the jab has been released, while a WA aged care provider has organised its own in-house vaccinations.

Staff shortages in aged care have hit crisis point, and the problem is expected to worsen.

The restoration of trust between the community and aged care sector is a vital first step if much-needed reform is to be achieved.

A constrained workforce and shortage of funding have aged care providers concerned ahead of sector reform.

Driving equitable, flexible funding in Western Australia’s aged care sector is an emerging focal point for providers, alongside tackling the persistent workforce shortage.

The Western Australian Planning Commission has approved Hall & Prior’s $90 million application to build an aged care facility on the former Woodside Hospital site.

Ahead of the implementation of new federal standards, aged care providers are focused on workforce pressures, home care demand and new facilities.

The Aged Care Bill 2024 has been introduced to federal parliament, proposing a $5.6 billion reform package, improved home care support, new elderly protection laws and increased funding.