Respect invests $2.7m to modernise Cohuna Village, reinforcing commitment to regional aged care

Respect has announced a $2.7 million investment to refurbish Cohuna Village, its aged care home in northern Victoria, as part of a broader strategy to modernise regional aged care infrastructure.

The staged refurbishment will upgrade 34 resident rooms, including bathrooms, at Cohuna Village over a two-year construction period beginning on 16 February 2026. The works are designed to modernise accommodation while maintaining continuity of care for residents throughout the project.

Cohuna Village has served the Gannawarra region for decades, providing residential aged care, memory support and respite services for older people in the local community. The latest investment follows significant upgrades completed in 2024, which increased the home’s capacity to 50 beds, including a dedicated memory support unit, and added a new café, upgraded courtyard and garden spaces, and a refurbished hair salon.

Respect CEO and Managing Director Jason Binder said the investment reflects a long-term commitment to ensuring regional Australians have access to high-quality aged care environments.

“Older Australians living in the regions deserve access to the same quality of facilities as metropolitan areas. This project ensures Cohuna Village continues to provide modern, resident-centred aged care that supports wellbeing, independence and dignity.”

To minimise disruption, the refurbishment will be delivered in stages, with five rooms upgraded at a time. Residents will be temporarily relocated within the home to a newly constructed five-bed wing while works are underway.

“This redevelopment is about future-proofing Cohuna Village,” Mr Binder said.

“We’re proud to invest in a home that has served its community for generations, and to ensure it remains a trusted and contemporary aged care option for the region.”

A community-built home, shaped for the future

Cohuna Village was founded in 1972 following a major community meeting convened by the Cohuna Lions Club in 1969, when around 500 locals gathered to plan a retirement village for the town. Built through grassroots fundraising and community support, the home began with 20 hostel units and expanded steadily over time.

In 2004, the community again rallied to establish an 11-bed dementia unit, Merle Hipworth House, named in honour of long-serving committee member Merle Hipworth, whose advocacy was central to the project.

Cohuna Village joined Respect in 2017, with further upgrades delivered since, including new wings, shared spaces and improvements to dining and staff areas. Today, the home has 50 resident rooms, including 11 in its dedicated memory support unit, with 34 rooms to be refurbished as part of the current redevelopment.

The project is fully funded by Respect and forms part of the organisation’s broader investment program across regional and rural Australia. The refurbishment is expected to be completed by early 2028.