Tasmania gets $18m grant for new aged care wing

The federal government will inject almost $18 million into expanding aged‑care services in Deloraine, funding a new 40‑bed wing at Grenoch Home in one of the most significant aged‑care infrastructure upgrades in Northern Tasmania in years.

The project, delivered through the national Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP), will almost double the facility’s capacity and add new clinical and community spaces, including GP consultation rooms, hydrotherapy facilities and dedicated allied‑health areas.

Construction is expected to strengthen access to residential aged care for older people across the Meander Valley, where demand for services has been steadily rising.

The Deloraine upgrade forms part of more than $31 million allocated to six Tasmanian aged‑care facilities in the latest ACCAP round. Nationally, the government has now committed over $1 billion in aged‑care capital works.

Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Emma White said the expansion would help ensure older Tasmanians can remain connected to their communities as their care needs increase.

“Being able to stay close to family, friends and familiar surrounds can make a real difference to wellbeing,” she said.

“This new wing will ensure older people in the community can access modern, high‑quality aged care.”

Aged Care Deloraine chief Nadine Ozols said the funding was “transformative” for a small regional provider and would secure the organisation’s long‑term sustainability.

“This investment will nearly double our capacity at our Grenoch Home and will deliver important new facilities to benefit all residents, including expanded communal spaces, GP and consultation rooms, hydrotherapy and dedicated allied health areas,” she said.

“Our residents, staff and volunteers are all extremely excited to see this ambitious plan come to fruition.” 

COTA Tasmania chief Brigid Wilkinson said the expansion was a much‑needed boost for regional Tasmania, where aged‑care shortages have been longstanding.

“This is a significant investment in an area that has long needed a boost in aged‑care beds,” she said.

“As the state with the largest ageing demographic, we need more options and support as we age – and we hope this type of investment continues.”

Ms Wilkinson said the state still faces major system pressures, including long delays in hospital transfers and extended waits for home‑care assessments.

“Older people and their families aren’t concerned with which level of government funds care – they just want assurances that support will be available when they need it,” she said.

“We need state and federal governments working together so older Tasmanians don’t fall between systems.”

She added that Tasmania is also in need of more specialised dementia accommodation and the release of additional greenfield sites to support future aged‑care development, particularly in rural areas.