Pollies turn sod at $8.5 million centre
POLITICIANS, community leaders and families attended the laying of the foundations for Jewish Care’s $8.5 million Disability Respite Centre last week.
POLITICIANS, community leaders and families attended the laying of the foundations for Jewish Care’s $8.5 million Disability Respite Centre last week.
The state-of-the-art facility on Glen Eira Road in Caulfield North, slated to open in September 2015, is a purpose-built building that has been designed around an innovative model of care, and developed through extensive communal consultation and industry research.
Featuring the latest in style, innovation and functionality, the architectural design caters for both children and adults in separate wings, each with five rooms housing a total of 10 people. It also enables comfortable and convenient transition from child to adult respite services under one roof.
Minister for Disability Services and Reform Mary Wooldridge said community organisations like Jewish Care provide an important support for people with a disability, their families and carers.
“It’s encouraging to see the steps Jewish Care is taking to provide a better quality of life for individuals and carers through providing even more respite care for people with a disability in the community,” Wooldridge said.
The centre’s features include custom-built playgrounds, sensory rooms, separate succahs for children and adults, kosher kitchens and other culturally specific amenities.
The building has been designed with future expansion in mind including the provision of a lightweight second floor addition to be added in years to come.
With improved facilities and increased capacity, families will benefit from the centre being open longer and over many more days during the year.
“Jewish Care is embracing the new social landscape, formalised by the federal government’s National Disability Insurance Scheme and our own Five Year Disability Plan. Laying the foundations is a significant moment in moving towards our goal of realising this vision,” Jewish Care CEO Bill Appleby said.
The new centre will give relief to family and carers by offering a safe, homely and culturally-sensitive environment for loved ones living with disability, while increasing social and recreational opportunities and independence.
Member for Caulfield David Southwick, who chairs the Social Inclusion Leadership Committee, was in attendance at the foundation ceremony. “Jewish Care continues to be a leader and innovator in the Jewish community and disability services,” he said.
The Disability Respite Centre is the first development of a number of major capital investment projects worth $180 million over the next 10 years that will see Jewish Care adapt to the changing face of aged care, disability and community service provision.
The event was also attended by Wooldridge and parliamentary colleagues, Andrea Coote, Georgie Crozier, Elizabeth Miller and Glen Eira City Council Mayor Neil Pilling.
ADAM KAMIEN
A rendering of Jewish Care’s Disability Respite Centre.
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