Anglicare Southern Queensland officially opens $2.6 Million Specialist Dementia Care Program unit in Southport
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Anglicare Southern Queensland has officially celebrated the opening and blessing of its new $2.6 million Specialist Dementia Care Program unit at the Abri Residential Aged Care Home in Southport
Anglicare Southern Queensland has officially celebrated the opening and blessing of its new $2.6 million Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP) unit at the Abri Residential Aged Care Home in Southport.
The SDCP unit will be delivered through funding from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.
The occasion was marked by a morning tea celebration with residents and their families; Anglicare Southern Queensland Chief Executive Officer Sue Cooke; Chair of the Community Services Commission, Tracy Morgan; and, Archbishop Jeremy Greaves.
Anglicare Southern Queensland CEO Sue Cooke, Anglicare Southern Queensland’s Chair of the Community Services Commission Tracy Morgan and Archbishop Jeremy Greaves in front of Abri Specialist Dementia Care Program Unit to unveil its commemorative plaque on Tuesday 27 May 2025
Archbishop Jeremy Greaves officially opened and blessed the unit on Tuesday 27 May.
During the blessing of the unit, Archbishop Greaves said that the unit is an important part of the Church’s mission and its service to the community.
“Inspired by the hospitality of Christ, this space will provide a place of care, connection, hospitality and rest,” Archbishop Jeremy Greaves said.
“We also acknowledge that we are stewards of the resources given to us and are grateful for the grant which has made it possible to build this unit.
“The care and support provided in this unit plays an integral part in the role of the Anglican Church in assisting people to live with dignity, empowering those we serve and strengthening community life.
“This demonstrates our commitment to addressing the physical, psychosocial, emotional and spiritual needs of people.
“The Church’s mission is to be merciful and reach out to those in need, caring and sharing resources.
“As people of justice, we advocate for changes in social structures and defend those most in need.”
Anglicare Southern Queensland CEO Sue Cooke said the new unit will deliver much-needed accommodation to residents with complex care needs.
“This unit will provide a high level of tailored care for eight individuals who exhibit severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia and are unable to be effectively cared for by mainstream aged care services,” Ms Cooke said.
“It’s fantastic that our Abri Residential Aged Care Home is now equipped to offer this vital specialised program, which is a first for the Gold Coast region and provides a supportive, safe environment where residents are treated with dignity and respect.
“In 2025 there are an estimated 85,200 people living with all forms of dementia and this figure is projected to increase to an estimated 168,300 by 2054.
“We recognise the growing need for this type of specialised care in Australia and these units will be an asset to the local community.”
The program offers transitional, short-term support with an average expected resident length stay of six to 12 months.
“The SDCP helps people living with dementia by reducing or stabilising their behaviour or psychological symptoms in a dedicated, dementia-friendly environment with the end goal of supporting them to move to a less intensive, mainstream care setting when they no longer require these specialist services,” Ms Cooke said.
“We employ specialist nurses and work with the best geriatricians and other practitioners to provide best-practice care through behaviour support and care plans.
“However, it’s important to acknowledge everyone’s journey is different, and the program offers a personalised approach, with the duration of each residents stay tailored to their unique needs.”
Clinical Director of Rehabilitation, Aged Care and Community Services at Gold Coast Health, Dr Ben Chen said the Abri SDCP will allow for a closer collaborative relationship.
“The Abri SDCPU will provide much needed specialist dementia support with additional beds, capacity and resources in the aged care sector for the Gold Coast region,” Dr Chen said.
“This unit will be particularly beneficial to persons living with behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, offering them quality and dignity of life through the provision of specialised care that they need.
“The unit will reduce unnecessary admissions to hospital by improving capacity and capability within the aged care sector to support this vulnerable cohort.
“Gold Coast Health will collaborate with Abri SDCPU by providing a visiting geriatrician and Clinical Nurse Consultant who will offer specialist advice and support for the SDCPU clients in the form of weekly meetings and monthly Clinical Advisory Committee.”
Anglicare Southern Queensland Chief Operating Officer Kane Singh; Anglicare Southern Queensland Clinical Lead, Specialist Dementia Care Program (SDCP), Victoria Cain; Anglicare Southern Queensland Abri Residential Aged Care Home Facility Manager Kirandeep Kaur; Anglicare Southern Queensland Group Manager, Residential Aged Care, Kate Hawkins; Anglicare Southern Queensland’s Chair of the Community Services Commission, Tracy Morgan; Anglicare Southern Queensland CEO Sue Cooke; and, Archbishop Jeremy Greaves on Tuesday, 27 May 2025 at the opening and blessing of the Specialist Dementia Care Program unit in Southport
The unit builds on Anglicare’s previous SDCP success at their St Martin’s Residential Aged Care Home, which is recognised by external stakeholders as a vital flagship service and the gold standard for all SDCPs.
Residents will now enjoy accommodation designed to foster a small, cottage-like living environment featuring open-plan layouts, homely furnishing, secure outdoor spaces and calming colour schemes to support comfort, safety and independence.
Anglicare has also received an additional $5.2 million in funding from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care that will go towards the delivery of two more SDCP units at the E.M Tooth Residential Aged Care Home in Manly and the Symes Thorpe Residential Aged Care Home in Toowoomba.
These additional units will offer nine beds each and contribute to the overarching national goal of 35 SDCP units.
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