St Andrew’s has received confirmation of a successful grant application to the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program, securing $3,856,547 to redevelop part of its Ballina facility into four small, home-like houses designed to enhance resident wellbeing and independence.
The transformation will include:
- Refurbished common areas and domestic kitchens
- Open-plan living and dining spaces
- Individualised house entries and discrete clinical facilities
- Updated landscaping with sensory features and shaded outdoor seating
- Improved technology for discreet supervision
- Removal of institutional features such as handrails
- New furnishings to create a warm, residential feel
This investment reflects a broader shift in aged care, where organisational scale is now critical to survival. Sector-wide data from StewartBrown, UTS and KPMG shows that smaller facilities face mounting financial pressure, with compliance, workforce and capital costs rising faster than income. Homes with fewer than 40 residents often run deficits, while those with 70–90 beds perform best.
St Andrew’s operates 203 beds across three sites — 123 in Ballina and 80 in Byron Bay — placing it above the viability threshold but still short of the resilient benchmark of 350–500 residents. In regional areas like Ballina and Byron Bay, where workforce and housing pressures are acute, the sustainable model is a cluster of medium-sized homes managed together. St Andrew’s continue to move further towards the resilient scale, while preserving the community focus and distinctive role of regional aged care.
“This grant is a game-changer for our Ballina site,” said Todd Yourell, Chief Executive Officer of St Andrew’s. It allows us to create spaces that feel like home, while also strengthening our organisational resilience. In a sector facing real financial pressure, this kind of investment helps us stay true to our mission — providing high-quality, community-based care that’s both sustainable and deeply personal.”
Media Contact: Todd Yourell, CEO tyourell@standrew.com.au
