Community
13 March, 2025
A vision for viability
ABERLEA has secured $360,685 in federal funding to progress a “visionary” plan, as the aged care provider carefully eyes a long-term master plan to secure services for the region’s elderly.
The funding from the latest round of the Commonwealth Aged Care Capital Assistance Grants was welcomed this week during a visit from Labor Member for Higgins Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah, a member of the Federal Health Committee, who toured Aberlea to gain a better understanding of the plans for the future.
This included how the latest funding would be used to end Aberlea’s reliance on gas, install new solar panels and modernise the facility’s heating and cooling system.
Aberlea chief executive officer David Knight said the funding would not only heighten resident comfort, but had the potential to save up to $50,000 per year in reduced costs.
“This is three-fold funding around enhancing the overall experience of our residents on a daily basis by ensuring they all have access to heating and cooling in their rooms via air conditioning,” he said.
“We will also, in order to power that, be installing 100 kilowatts of solar panels on the roof.
“We’ll also be removing gas from the system almost in its entirety.
“At the moment we rely on gas to heat our hydronic heating system and our hot water system, but in the new world it will all be replaced by electric heat pumps, which will be powered by the new solar panels.
“It increases the liveability of the place – the heating and cooling offers individualised temperature control for each of our residents, and it also decreases our reliance on gas – which is expensive, and getting more expensive.”
Mr Knight said the funding was delivered at the opportune time as the facility’s hydronic system and gas boilers were reaching end of life, and this would usher in a new era of efficiency.
“It’s fantastic the Federal Government has seen fit to support us against a competitive round,” he said.
“We’re fortunate and very proud to be stand-alone, not for profit and regional.
“We think we’re an illustration of how it can be done in that format, and done well.
“We’ve got some challenges we’re facing, along with the rest of the aged care industry, but we feel we’re well set up to meet those challenges and continue to provide for Mortlake and the surrounding areas for years to come.”
Dr Michelle Ananda-Rajah said the funding provided an important step to ensuring the future of the facility.
“Electrification of businesses, homes and not-for-profit aged care facilities is so important, for both environmental reasons and the hip pocket,” she said.
“These facilities are run on very thin margins, which is particularly true in the regions where every single dollar matters and is invested back in to these facilities through workforce, meals and care.
“If aged care residences can save money through electrification, then why not? It’s a no-brainer as far as the government is concerned.”
Dr Ananda-Rajah said she had been impressed by the vision Aberlea’s board and executive had cultivated to earn the funds.
“I think it’s visionary,” she said.
“I saw the huge gas cylinder, which is trucked in every one or two months, and the thought they are now going to be heating, cooling and running operations on Aussie sunshine is fantastic.
“This sets them up for other developments down the track such as through batteries or reverse charging when those electric vehicles come online in Australia – which should be this year.”
Dr Ananda-Rajah said she believed the aged care sector would be a point of priority for a re-elected Labor Government, building on the passing of the Aged Care Act which comes in to effect from July this year.
“The Albanese Government passed a historic act – the first mass change to aged care in a generation – and what it’s designed to do is to not only improve standards and put residents and their families at the centre, but to make the sector sustainable,” she said.
“This is particularly an issue in thin markets like the regions which traditionally, and even now, are struggling to attract workers and invest in infrastructure.
“This facility is a beautiful facility but it is 30 years old and it needs upgrades – by passing this act, we are unlocking the funds needed to make these facilities secure in the future.
“Not just to survive, but actually thrive and grow.”
As Western District Newspapers reported in July 2023, Aberlea has been working on the development of a master plan which includes potential expansion options.
Mr Knight and Mr Murphy were open in their belief funding would be likely to flow if Aberlea proved its viability, bucking the trend of around 60 per cent of regional aged care providers running at a loss to highlight Aberlea is a smart investment opportunity for any government to feel confident its contributions would translate to positive outcomes for the wider community.
Dr Ananda-Rajah said it was clear to see Aberlea’s board and executive had a vision worth investing in.
“Talking to the leadership here, it’s obvious they have a master plan for well in to the future,” she said.
“They already have an idea – all we need to do is create the policy settings and the financial backing to allow that to happen.
“One thing that isn’t discussed enough is how important this is on the health system as well – if we can keep older Australians aging in their own communities, it places far less pressure on hospital beds.”
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