Community
27 November, 2025
Lifting eyes to the future
AN ambitious multi-million-dollar expansion to transform Aberlea Mortlake’s aged care into a thriving hub of senior living was unveiled alongside a strong financial result at this week’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Aberlea hosted the meeting on Monday, revealing a positive financial result which saw the aged care provider finish $100,292 in the green.
Total revenue and income rose from $6.102 million in 2024 to $6.800 million in 2025, while total expenses rose from $5.968 million to $6.732 million.
Aberlea chair Jen Roxburgh said the positive result was a consequence of a “steady and disciplined” financial approach.
“We’ve examined every part of our business and we’ve begun to chart a more deliberate future-focused path,” she said.
“This includes a formal endorsement and release of our masterplan – a bold and community-led vision for Aberlea’s future.
“It’s not just about buildings – it’s about reimagining how we provide care, how we connect with people and how we continue to serve this region long into the future.
“It feels like we’re lifting our eyes.”
“We’ve consolidated, steadied, we’ve got a plan and now it is time to really put it into action.”
As part of the meeting, the details surrounding the future of Mortlake’s facilities were unveiled in conjunction with the Aberlea masterplan which has been years in the making.
In addition to the redevelopment and expansion of services at both the Brumley Homes in Mortlake and Aberlea Timboon, which Western District Newspapers recently revealed, an eye has also been cast an ambitious redevelopment of facilities to create a thriving senior living hub in Mortlake.
Stage one of the proposed masterplan over the next three years will include refurbishment of the Courthouse into a Seniors Information Hub with wellness and hospitality spaces, in addition to refurbishments which will allow the development of new respite rooms.
“Stage two and three are pencilled in but we’re still not quite sure how they will flow,” Mrs Roxburgh said.
“But the vision is about people being able to move from their home to independent living then assisted living and, eventually, aged care – all in our community.”
Board member Mick Murphy OAM said the long-term vision would look to utilise Soldier’s Memorial Hall and neighbouring vacant land.
“Stage two, which is years four-to-seven, will be much more focused on the development (of units) at the back of Soldier’s Memorial Hall – it’s moving from the idea of it to the physical development of it,” he said.
“We’re looking at a shared space with existing care services, so we’re talking about sharing with the Soldier’s Memorial Hall and hopefully, we can get the government to enable us to get access to that land.
“Stage three, which is eight years plus, will hopefully incorporate the reconfiguration of Soldier’s Memorial Hall into much more of a community space to accommodate a whole sweep of changes to the facilities and services which we can offer to the whole community.”
The expansion of residential aged care services will also be explored at sites in Mortlake as part of the long-term, stage three vision.
In all, the long-term vision would provide not only a significant increase in Aberlea’s capacity but would also facilitate the addition of up to 27 full-time equivalent staff.
“It’s a huge benefit if we could do it,” Mr Murphy said.
“The benefits of the masterplan go far beyond bricks and mortar.
“We’re starting to move to address the challenges of the new Aged Care Act, getting us from where we sit to where we think we need to be.
“We can’t survive at the scale and size we are now.”
Board deputy chair and fundraising director Mary Morton said community will play an influential role in fundraising efforts.
At a time when both State and Federal Governments are tightening belt straps, the onus will be on community-led efforts to generate momentum and prove the viability of the vision.
“If we don’t do it, we risk losing something valuable to this community,” Mrs Morton said.
“Aberlea is one of the largest employers in Mortlake so we would not only lose jobs but we lose the residual income which flows from those jobs.
“Most important, we would lose something this town established, has always been proud of and in many respects form a significant part of Mortlake.
“This is a watershed moment – we know we’re going to need a couple of million dollars, these are big numbers, but we’re not expecting it to be simply funded through grassroots.
The AGM also saw new directors Maria Collins, Angela Oaten and Nicole Stanfield welcomed.
“We received over 100 expressions of interest from across Australia,” Mrs Roxburgh said.
“Through the process the panel ultimate identified three exceptional individuals who bring distinct, complementary strengths to Aberlea in clinical leadership, people, culture and strategic governance.
“Each was unanimously recommended for appointment to the board by the panel.
“It was a thoughtful and considered process.”
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