Regional aged care services expand in Australia

Regional aged care initiatives are expanding and evolving across Australia. In Mareeba, the Mareeba Shire Council has approved a development application to convert a residential property on Lloyd Street into permanent office space for RADCARE. The federally funded, not-for-profit organization, which has provided in-home services for three decades, identified the need for a permanent location to ensure long-term operational stability in the region.

In central Victoria, the Wedderburn Lions Club is advocating for a community-owned residential model to address the lack of local aged care facilities. The club has developed a business plan for a 30-bed supported residential service designed to provide low-level care, allowing older residents to remain in their community. Spokesperson Jude Raftis noted that the model aims to be sustainable by avoiding top-heavy management structures, though the project faces regulatory and legislative hurdles.