Catholic Health Australia has welcomed more than $55 million in government grants to support access to residential aged care facilities for local communities around the country.
CHA members Southern Cross Care in Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania, and Calvary Aged Care Services in Victoria and Tasmania, are set to receive the funding across five facilities.
The announcement includes the largest ever grant of $51 million, to Southern Cross Care (Qld) to build a much-needed new residential facility in Broken Hill.
CHA Health Director Alex Lynch said the investment would help providers improve services, upgrade facilities, and deliver high-quality care for older Australians.
"These grants are a great win for vulnerable Australian communities, which Catholic providers focus on for delivering services," Mr Lynch said.
"The investment in Broken Hill is especially significant as it will allow Southern Cross Care to build a brand-new residential aged care home as well as community facilities.
"The much-needed grants enable providers to make vital capital improvements to residential aged care facilities.
"This support acknowledges the critical role Catholic providers play in delivering aged care, and gives them the resources to keep pace with the growing and changing needs of our ageing population.
"We thank the government for entrusting Catholic providers with this investment and working with us so constructively and collaboratively."
The other grants are $1.7 million to Calvary Aged Care Services for its Calvary Sandhill residential facility in Tasmania, and $880,000 for its Cordelia Grove residential facility in Victoria; $660,000 to Southern Cross Care (TAS) for its Ainslie Low Head staff accommodation; and $1.3 million to Southern Cross Care (WA) for its Victoria Park Nursing Home.