Canberra’s first specialist dementia care village
Canberra’s first dementia care village has taken a major step forward, with HammondCare selected to lead the development that will deliver best practice care and support for people living with dementia in the ACT.
Informed by extensive community engagement, the Suburban Land Agency released Curtin Section 99 Block 14 to the market on 30 May 2024 to enable development of Canberra’s first dedicated dementia care village to support those living with dementia and their families over the lifetime of their illness.
Construction is anticipated to commence in late 2027, subject to approvals, with completion forecast for 2030.
Creating Canberra’s first specialist dementia care village.
The Curtin Dementia Care Village will be a purpose-built, dementia-friendly community located on the site of the former Curtin Primary School. Designed to support people living with dementia, the village will feature small-scale, homelike cottages that promote autonomy, familiarity and connection.
The development will include:
- 11 cottages offering 90 single rooms with private ensuites
- Domestic-style kitchens and generous living areas with safe access to outdoor gardens
- Discreet placement of clinical and operational areas to maintain a residential feel
- A cafe, shop, hairdressing salon and 48 Supported Seniors Living apartments as part of an integrated care site
The village will align with the National Aged Care Design Principles & Guidelines and reflect the character of the surrounding Curtin neighbourhood.
This village-style model has recently emerged as a breakthrough in dementia care, praised for its emphases on social connection, physical activity and autonomous living, and its proven benefits of decreased reliance on medication and increased holistic wellbeing.
Located 10km from the CBD, Curtin is an established, thoughtfully designed suburb in Canberra’s charming inner south, home to local walking trails, green parklands and neighbourhood shops.
Curtin Dementia Care Village will seamlessly integrate into the existing fabric of its surrounds, inviting residents to meaningfully interact with their neighbours to experience a genuine sense of community belonging.
Curtin Dementia Village Place Development Brief
In 2023, the ACT Government engaged with the local community to discuss opportunities for the future development of the site. Common themes raised by the community included safety, connectivity, and accessibility that promotes wellbeing. This engagement informed the Curtin Dementia Village Place Development Brief. Interested developers will need to respond directly to this brief in their tender response. Read more about our community engagement here.
