Case Study: Securing $9 million in Capital Grants to transform regional aged care

By Stephen Rowan, Head of Business Development

Across regional Australia, access to capital funding can be the difference between maintaining services and delivering truly transformative care environments.

This case study highlights how two regional providers — led by Roy Soaika, former CEO of Murray House (Wentworth, NSW) and current CEO of Ashleigh House (Sale, VIC) — successfully secured a combined $9 million in Aged Care Capital Assistance Program Grants (ACCAP), enabling critical expansion and infrastructure upgrades.

Murray House, Wentworth NSW

$8 million – New 20-Bed Memory Support Wing

At Murray House, the funding supported the development of a new 20-bed Memory Support Wing, purpose-built for residents living with dementia and cognitive impairment. The project was designed to:

• Expand access to specialist dementia care in a regional community
• Provide a safe, modern, homely environment tailored to cognitive and physical needs
• Reduce the need for residents to travel long distances to access appropriate services
• Align fully with aged care design standards and government funding priorities

Securing the grant required a comprehensive and carefully constructed business case — demonstrating community demand, projected resident outcomes, long-term sustainability, and compliance with funding criteria.

The result? A transformative investment in specialist care capacity that will serve the community for years to come.

Ashleigh House, Sale VIC

$1 million – Critical Infrastructure & Accommodation Upgrades

At Ashleigh House, the focus was different but equally critical. The $1 million grant enabled:

• Installation of a new call bell system to improve resident safety and response times
• Refurbishment and extension of 10 bedrooms
• Enhanced accommodation capacity to better meet local demand
• Improved staff workflow and operational efficiency

The application needed to clearly articulate urgent infrastructure requirements and demonstrate how the upgrades would strengthen both safety outcomes and operational performance.

The Approach: Aligning Strategy with Funding Priorities

Both projects required:

• Clear articulation of community need
• Strong financial and operational justification
• Alignment with government grant objectives
• Detailed, compliant documentation

Working closely with Roy and his teams, the applications were built to be not only technically compliant but strategically compelling.

Successful capital grants are rarely about “filling in forms.” They are about demonstrating impact, sustainability, and alignment with broader sector priorities.

The Impact

For residents:

• Access to specialist dementia care closer to home
• Safer environments and improved quality of life
• Modern, purpose-built accommodation

For staff:

• Improved workflows and efficiency
• Better infrastructure supporting high-quality care delivery

For the community:

• Increased local aged care capacity
• Strengthened regional health and care services

CEO Perspective

“Working with Steve (Mirus Australia) on both Murray House and Ashleigh House has been invaluable. His deep understanding of the aged care sector, attention to detail, and ability to clearly align projects with government funding priorities were central to our success. Securing $8 million at Murray House for a new Memory Support Wing and $1 million at Ashleigh House for infrastructure upgrades allowed both organisations to deliver transformative projects that have made a real difference for residents, staff, and the wider community. I would not hesitate to recommend his grant writing expertise to anyone seeking funding for aged care capital projects.”

— Roy Soaika, CEO

Thinking About a Capital Project?

Whether you’re expanding services, upgrading infrastructure, or responding to compliance and safety requirements, capital funding can unlock meaningful transformation — particularly in regional and rural communities.

If you’re considering applying for an Aged Care Capital Assistance Grant, our team can help you:

• Strengthen your application from strategy through submission
• Build a compelling business case
• Align your project with funding priorities
• Identify risks and compliance gaps

Get in touch to discuss how we can support your next capital project.