Media Release

KAP Leader and Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter continues to welcome funding announcements in his electorate, this time a combined grant of $6.75 million and 28 new beds awarded to two residential care groups.
Dalrymple Villa in Charters Towers received $2 million and 18 beds and Mutkin Residential and Community Care Indigenous Corporation in Yarrabah, $4.75 million and 10 beds, under the residential care places and capital grant component of the 2018-19 Aged Care Approvals Round (ACAR).
Dalrymple Villa staff said the additional beds would help alleviate waitlists, which were usually 10-15 people for permanency and fully booked for respite.
In its application, Villa staff stated they needed more care places and a significant refurbishment of common areas, including the kitchen, which had not be refurbished since opening in 1988.
After recently extending the service to 71 beds, the Villa wanted to expand its licenced beds to include 18 more, including another four beds unit and ten new beds in a separate block.
Mutkin Residential Aged Care, which is the only aged care specific service provider in the area and operates 16 residential beds with a 20-person service waitlist, was allocated 10 places.
It proposed to develop a 10-bed residential wing to fill the gap, maximise connections with other health care and community groups, and support special needs groups and key issues.
These included Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, financially and socially disadvantaged, rural and remote, dementia and respite.
Mr Katter applauded the hard work and determination of the communities in successfully applying for the support, which he said would supply a much-needed boost.
“Apart from the social and health benefits, the extra beds – each worth tens of thousands to the North and Far North Qld economy – create valuable jobs,” he said.
Each year, ACAR allocates new Federal Government funded aged care places and capital grants.
In this recent round, 14,275 new aged care places were allocated, set to help meet growing demand for aged care.

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