Construction underway on $41.1m Cohuna aged care facility

Construction is now underway on a new $41.1 million Public Sector Residential Aged Care facility in Victoria’s Cohuna, which will be co-located at and operated by the Cohuna District Hospital team. Being delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority and constructed by builder Fairbrother Construction, it is expected to be completed in early 2027.

Once complete, the facility will feature 16 aged care beds, which will utilise the concept of ‘small households’ — promoting dignity, independence and privacy. The small-households concept is reflected through modern single rooms, each with a private ensuite bathroom, as well as a dedicated communal kitchen, dining, lounge and break-out sitting areas for residents to stay connected with each other — as well as with loved ones.

Also provided by the new facility are eight acute care hospital beds, which means residents will have access to integrated medical care as well as a refurbished administrative space to support better communication with families. The designs give residents open area views and an abundance of natural light — to make the most of the surrounding natural environment, acknowledging the positive impact of green spaces and fresh air for residents’ physical and mental wellbeing.

Features are also incorporated into the design to make the new facility a dementia-friendly environment that is better suited to supporting the mental health and complex care needs of older Victorians. Residents have the opportunity to remain close to their support networks and maintain family and community connections as their care needs increase, being enabled to ‘age in place’.

“Ageing in place — in familiar surroundings and near loved ones — is critically important for older Victorians, especially in regional areas like Cohuna, and we’re delivering the care and facilities to support this,” Victoria’s Minister for Ageing Ingrid Stitt said.

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