The Allan Labor Government is ensuring older Victorians get the high-quality care and comfort they deserve, with construction on the new $139.6 million Kingston Centre public residential aged care facility in Cheltenham reaching its maximum height.
Minister for Ageing Ingrid Stitt today announced the multi-storey facility has officially 'topped out', marking another key milestone in the delivery of the new 150-bed facility that will cater to residents with a range of complex care needs.
Purposefully designed to provide a welcoming environment where residents can age with dignity, the facility will be dementia-friendly and better suited to supporting mental health and the care needs of older Victorians.
It will help support mobility and independence while feeling like a home and will provide modern single rooms with private ensuite bathrooms, while also providing a modern and efficient working environment for staff.
To further create a safe, comfortable and home-like feel for residents, rooms will also be grouped into small households within the facility with separate kitchen and dining areas. The facility will also feature a community room, sacred space and other common areas for residents and their family and friends to enjoy.
Replacing the former AG Eastwood residential aged care facility, the new facility's location onsite at the Monash Health Kingston Centre means residents will have easy access to a range of integrated healthcare already on offer, including dementia and memory services, clinics for falls and balance, and age-appropriate mental health services.
Delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority, the project is creating and sustaining up to 400 local construction jobs and is on track to be completed in 2025.
The project is part of the Government's commitment to our public aged care sector - the largest public aged care sector in Australia - and to providing high quality care to help Victorians age well in their communities.
The Victorian Budget 2023/24 invested a further $162 million to deliver three world-class public sector residential aged care services across Victoria.
As stated by Minister for Ageing Ingrid Stitt
"The Allan Labor Government continues to support our public aged care services like the Kingston Centre to expand capacity and deliver the world-class care and support older Victorians deserve."
As stated by Minister for Health Infrastructure Mary-Anne Thomas
"With works having reached their highest point, the brand-new Kingston Centre public residential aged care facility is now just around the corner."
As stated by Member for Clarinda Meng Heang Tak
"The topping out marks an exciting milestone along the construction journey - soon older locals in Cheltenham and Heatherton and the south east will have a modern and safe place to call home."
As stated by Member for Bentleigh Nick Staikos
"We are one step closer to delivering this new publicly funded aged care facility - one that will promote independence and ensure greater access to health services thanks to its location at the existing Kingston Centre."
