Specialist Dementia Care Unit
Central Gippsland Health (CGH) has secured funding for a Specialist Dementia Care Program, the only one of its kind in Gippsland.
The Commonwealth Government will provide more than $5 million to establish the program at Wilson Lodge in Sale and operate as a major referral centre for the Gippsland region.
This will enable our community members to receive care closer to home, which supports the fundamental principles of the Local Health Service Network.
The program is for people experiencing severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), providing support to individuals whose behaviours are beyond the capacity of mainstream residential aged care services.
CGH Chief Executive Officer, Michele Gardner, welcomed the funding which would see CGH become a “centre of excellence” in dementia care.
Ms Gardner said the program would complement existing Australian Government-funded dementia programs, including the Dementia Behaviour Management Advisory Service (DBMAS) and Severe Behaviour Response Teams (SBRT).
“We will deliver intensive, specialised residential care focused on stabilising and reducing symptoms over time, with the aim of transitioning the individual to a less intensive care setting where possible,” she said.
“The program expands specialist service capability within Gippsland and supports integration across acute, sub-acute, community health, and residential aged care services.
“It also provides an opportunity to build workforce capability in complex dementia care and behavioural management.
“Importantly, it reflects both the maturity of our aged care strategy and our capacity to lead innovative, specialist service delivery in regional Victoria.”
A dedicated working party has been established to oversee planning and implementation, under the oversight of Director Aged Care, Megan Tyler with Amanda Bain appointed as Project Lead. The working party will progress site and model-of-care planning, workforce and training requirements as well as governance and clinical oversight structures.
The new centre will be completed early in 2027.
To learn more about the plans for the Specialist Dementia Care Unit, you can view the presentation from CGH's Open Access Board Meeting held on 2 September 2026: SDCU_Presentation_20260902.mp4
