St Andrews Village Ballina is set to undergo a major upgrade for dementia care after securing an $3.8 million federal funding package.

Richmond MP Justine Elliott announced the boost, confirming the funding will come from the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program to reconfigure part of the Ballina facility into four small memory-support households with 31 beds designed specifically for people living with dementia.

Feros Village Bangalow will also receive over $4.2 million to deliver 14 new rooms with private ensuites and modernised common areas.

“This investment is about ensuring older Australians can age with dignity in the communities they know and love,” Mrs Elliott said.

Meeting a growing need

The upgrade comes at a time when dementia is on the rise across Australia.

Around 421,000 Australians are currently living with dementia, and that figure is expected to nearly double to more than 812,000 by 2054.

In New South Wales alone, cases are tipped to grow from about 138,000 today to more than 250,000 within three decades. 

Ballina Shire, where the population is forecast to jump by almost 25 percent over the next 20 years, is expected to feel this pressure sharply as the community ages.

What will change

St Andrew’s says the redevelopment will transform part of its site into a more homelike environment, with open-plan living and dining areas, domestic kitchens, sensory gardens and shaded outdoor seating.

Institutional features such as long corridors and handrails will be removed, while discreet technology will allow staff to supervise residents without intruding on their independence.

St Andrew’s CEO Todd Yourell described it as “a game changer”.

 “It allows us to create spaces that feel like home, while also strengthening our organisation’s resilience.

“In a sector under financial pressure, this kind of investment helps us keep care both sustainable and deeply personal.”

A stronger future for aged care

St Andrew’s currently operates 203 beds across its Ballina and Byron Bay sites.

Industry experts say that medium-sized facilities working together are key to surviving in regional areas, where costs are rising but demand is growing even faster.

For residents and families in Ballina, the upgrade means something simpler: more beds, better design, and a safer, more dignified place for people living with dementia.

PHOTO (L-R): St Andrew’s Aged Care Chief Clinical Officer Kelly Williams, St Andrew’s Village Ballina resident Gordon and Justine Elliot MP at St Andrew’s Village Ballina.