The Victorian government is investing $134.6 million to build a new aged care facility at the Kingston Centre in Cheltenham.
The 150-bed development is designed to deliver best-practice care in an environment that promotes independence, privacy and includes dementia-friendly features.
Clarke Hopkins Clarke has been appointed to design the new residential aged care facility in Melbourne’s south-east.
Residents will be accommodated in single bedrooms with ensuites which are grouped into households to maintain a home-like environment.
Victorian Health Building Authority (VHBA) chief executive officer Rob Fiske said: “The new residential aged care facility will form part of the Kingston Centre, a community-focused neighbourhood that provides integrated health and wellbeing services for older Victorians.
“The state-of-the-art facility will provide modern single rooms with private ensuites which are grouped into households to maintain a home-like environment.
“A community room, sacred space, and other common areas will provide more opportunities for social interactions and activities.
“When completed in 2026, the facility will enable our older community members to live in the comfortable and supportive environment they deserve.”
The facility’s design will make the most of the surrounding natural environment, with residents having area views, an abundance of natural light, and access to terraces and gardens.
The facility is expected to be completed in early 2026 and will be operated by Monash Health.
The development represents stage three of the Modernisation of Metropolitan Melbourne Public Sector Residential Aged Care Strategy.
This strategy aims to develop larger scale services that better meet community expectations and will enable contemporary models of aged care that are dementia friendly, support mental health, and suited to the needs of people with complex care needs.