Innovative aged care model leads the way

Victorian Minister for Housing, Wendy Lovell, and Minister for Ageing, David Davis, were joined by Member for Northern Metropolitan Region, Craig Ondarchie, Liberal for candidate for Melbourne, Ed Huntingford, and Liberal candidate for Northern Metropolitan Region, Gladys Liu, to celebrate the opening of Rathdowne Place, the first of three buildings that will make up Australian Unity’s Health and Wellbeing Precinct in Rathdowne Street.

Rathdowne Place, owned and operated by Australian Unity, is part of the Victorian Coalition government’s Carlton Housing Redevelopment being built with the Living Carlton Consortium.

The Health and Wellbeing Precinct is part of the Napthine government’s Carlton Housing Redevelopment project which aims to provide better quality public housing.

Minister Davis commends Australian Unity for the facility’s features which include an aged care and wellbeing centre.

“These features will provide seniors with access to a gymnasium, hydrotherapy pool, day respite and a community room for residents. It will also have two retirement living buildings set around a central park which are due for completion in 2018,” Minister Davis says.

According to Minister Lovell, the Coalition government’s $80 million investment has seen the number of social housing properties grow from 192 to 246.

An additional 800 private apartments across three sites have also been established through private investment.

“This redevelopment is an example of the private sector investing in social housing projects, resulting in better housing, community facilities and more housing to support some of Victoria’s most vulnerable people,” Minister Lovell says.

“We are committed to providing quality homes that meet a variety of needs, strengthening communities and providing enhanced opportunities for economic and social participation,” she adds.

The project has also resulted in positive work outcomes for six tenants who have been employed since the project started in 2010.