4 August 2021
Leading provider of aged care, home care and retirement living for more than 40 years, Southern Cross Care Queensland (SCCQ), is delighted to have been awarded $14 million in the final, competitive grants 2020 Aged Care Approval Round (ACAR) announced by the Department of Health on 30 June 2021.
The largest allocation nationally of all ACAR grants in this round, the funding will be used to significantly boost the $28.7 million investment needed for delivery of SCCQ’s visionary Chinchilla Aged Care Master Plan, released in May and unveiled at a community townhall meeting on 22 July at the Chinchilla RSL Memorial Club.
SCCQ Chief Executive Officer, Jason Eldering said it was a vote of confidence for the region and the future of aged care and was keen to acknowledge local leaders and the local community for their backing.
“I would like to sincerely thank the local community and our many partners at all levels of government who got behind our vision including the Member for Maranoa, the Honourable David Littleproud MP, the Member for Callide, the Honourable Colin Boyce MP, Lord Mayor Western Downs Regional Council, Paul McVeigh, and a range of business organisations including Toowoomba and Serat Basin Enterprise and Southern Queensland Rural Health,” Mr Eldering said. “At SCCQ, our heart is in serving and supporting rural and remote Queensland communities, and we are delighted we will now be able to move forward in support of current and future aged care needs in Chinchilla and the surrounding regions. “With this grant, we are a major step closer to realizing our Stage 1 Master Plan vision to rebuild and expand our current Illoura Village in Chinchilla. The much loved but ageing facility currently provides a warm and welcoming home for up to 66 residents, who will benefit greatly from the upgrade. The new village will offer a purpose-built, contemporary home, including a dedicated dementia care home, to support up to 81 residents,” he said.
“I would like to sincerely thank the local community and our many partners at all levels of government who got behind our vision including the Member for Maranoa, the Honourable David Littleproud MP, the Member for Callide, the Honourable Colin Boyce MP, Lord Mayor Western Downs Regional Council, Paul McVeigh, and a range of business organisations including Toowoomba and Serat Basin Enterprise and Southern Queensland Rural Health,” Mr Eldering said.
“At SCCQ, our heart is in serving and supporting rural and remote Queensland communities, and we are delighted we will now be able to move forward in support of current and future aged care needs in Chinchilla and the surrounding regions.
“With this grant, we are a major step closer to realizing our Stage 1 Master Plan vision to rebuild and expand our current Illoura Village in Chinchilla. The much loved but ageing facility currently provides a warm and welcoming home for up to 66 residents, who will benefit greatly from the upgrade. The new village will offer a purpose-built, contemporary home, including a dedicated dementia care home, to support up to 81 residents,” he said.
SCCQ is committed to building aged-care communities that offer an integrated mix of housing co-located with aged care, community services (day respite/ home care) and education, to best meet the needs of the whole region.
Preliminary site planning including discussions with local authorities had already been undertaken, with Stage 1 construction work expected to commence in early 2022. Master planning for the site also includes a Stage 2 community centre, affordable rental housing, rural and allied health services and an educational training facility in partnership with Southern Queensland Rural Health, to grow and support a regional workforce.
“Our aim is to ultimately keep communities and families connected, create local jobs and ensure the financial and social sustainability of this vital community asset,” Mr Eldering said. “We’re looking forward to a bright future in Chinchilla and surrounding regions, where our deeply valued Illoura Village residents, families and the community can live their best lives and where their experience every day is genuinely that every person matters,” Mr Eldering said.
“Our aim is to ultimately keep communities and families connected, create local jobs and ensure the financial and social sustainability of this vital community asset,” Mr Eldering said.
“We’re looking forward to a bright future in Chinchilla and surrounding regions, where our deeply valued Illoura Village residents, families and the community can live their best lives and where their experience every day is genuinely that every person matters,” Mr Eldering said.
