Government announces increased funding for Northern Territory Aged Care

April 22, 2025agedcareHealthy aging, Uncategorized

With the fastest-growing population of over 65s in the country, the Northern Territory is facing increasing demand for aged care services.
In a bid to address this issue, the Federal government has pledged $60 million to build an aged care facility in Darwin.

The new facility, which will be delivered in partnership with an aged care provider, will have at least 120 beds. The funding aims to address a critical shortage of aged care services in the Territory.

So is this enough to address the aged care issues the Territory is currently facing?

What is the issue?

Lack of aged care beds

Darwin has the lowest number of aged care beds in the country. Many older people in the NT requiring a place in aged care can face waits of at least a year.

There are currently 60 to 80 elderly Territorians in Royal Darwin Hospital each day. Experts say this is contributing to extreme overcrowding at the hospital.

Without action, it is estimated that the Territory’s shortage of aged care beds will only get worse. The shortfall is currently estimated to be increasing at a rate of 20 beds per year.

Lack of support services

Currently, the Northern Territory has no specialised dementia aged care facilities.

Meanwhile, accessing support services such as respite can remains difficult.

Jill Emerson Smith is currently caring for her husband who has dementia. As a result, was forced to miss the funerals of her brother and sister-in law due to a lack of respite care in the NT.

“You are at breaking point, and that in itself is incredibly difficult to acknowledge,” she told the ABC.

“I felt incredibly alone and isolated, and there was nothing I could do about it.”

What has been the reaction?

Though the government says this is a new announcement, critics argue this is not the case. They say the facility was promised by the Northern Territory’s previous Labor government in partnership with the Commonwealth in 2021, but never delivered.

In one sense, they are right-however the promised aged care facility in 2021 was only 60 beds, half of what the government is now promising.

Council Of The Aging NT’s Sue Shearer says even with the new facility, the territory will still not have enough beds to meet it’s needs.

“Now I’d say [we need] at least 200 beds,” she told the ABC.

“We have the fastest growing number of seniors in the country … they need to be able to age very safely and have the care they deserve.”
She argues a 120 bed facility will be over half-full just with people currently waiting in hospital.

Australia is currently experiencing a severe shortage of aged care workers. Therefore, there are also concerns of how the new aged care facility would be adequately staffed. In many rural and remote locations, staffing aged care facilities can prove incredibly challenging.

Any increase in aged care beds will be welcomed. However, it’s clear more needs to be done to address the growing needs of the Territory’s aging population.

Have you ever considered a career in aged care? Working in aged care offers the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of others.

If you are considering a career in aged care, Aged Care Resumes can help. We are pleased to offer various services, including resume writing and interview skills coaching.