Australian Government Funds 268 New Aged Care Beds in South Australia

The federal government announced a $34.5 million Commonwealth contribution under the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP) to expand residential aged‑care capacity in Adelaide. Together with provider investment, the package unlocks more than $134 million and will deliver 268 additional beds across five South Australian sites, including new construction in Dover Gardens and expansions at Amber Aged Care, Estia Health Salisbury, Pennwood Kings Park and St Raphael’s Home.

The projects target older Australians with higher and complex care needs, particularly dementia. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler and Aged Care Minister Sam Rae said the funding aims to address the 453 patients currently waiting for placement in South Australian hospitals. South Australian Acting Health Minister Chris Picton and Premier Peter Malinauskas welcomed the support and highlighted a $250 million no‑interest loan scheme to encourage further private development.

The initiative is part of a broader national push to add roughly 10,000 residential aged‑care places each year, a target the country has struggled to meet.