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Southwest Queensland will welcome four new residential aged care spaces following a federal and state $12.87m investment into regional healthcare.
On Friday, the QLD Palaszczuk government and the Commonwealth announced health communities in Cunnamulla, Injune, Surat, and Augathella would expand to include aged care services.
The state health minister, Yvette D'Ath, said the move was needed to meet the growing demand for aged care services in the region.
"These upgrades will not only provide much-needed residential aged care spaces but also create good jobs in the community," Ms D'Ath said.
"We've partnered with the Commonwealth to ensure elderly Queenslanders in the South West have access to quality aged care closer to home."
Southwest Queensland is a remote area covering roughly 320,000 square kilometres with a population of nearly 260,000 people.
Access to aged care in remote areas of Australia is often limited due to the lower availability of such services compared to metropolitan regions.
Rural aged care providers face significant challenges in delivering quality care, including workforce shortages and limited accommodation options for staff.
Home support accounts for the majority of aged care services in rural regions, where there were 0.9 home care services for each residential aged care service in 2020.
In 2021, one in five older Australians living in remote and very remote parts of Australia received home care services.
Ms D'Ath said she hoped the expansion would improve access to health services for older Australians living in rural Queensland.
"Through these health services, our communities will have access to aged care services but also acute hospital services, allied health, early intervention programs, and community health services," she said.
The expansion of the Cunnamulla Multipurpose Health Service is already underway and expected to complete the construction of a 10-bed residential aged care unit, costing $7.6m, in early 2024.
The upgrade will replace the existing four-bed unit established in March 2021 and feature an activity room, dining area, and a sensory garden.
Additionally, Injune, Surat, and Augathella's health services will be equipped with two single bedrooms with ensuites.
"We're committed to delivering better health services to all Queenslanders, regardless of where they live."
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