The Wallara Potter Street Redevelopment

A Shared Vision

Wallara’s Potter Street Dandenong redevelopment is a joint venture with Wintringham, a leading aged-care provider for older disadvantaged people. The state-of-the-art integrated facility and jointly co-ordinated management is a pioneering model that addresses pressing needs confronting theDisability sector.

For the first time ageing people with disabilities can transition into ‘aged care’ supported by Wallara and Wintringham, with minimum disruption and distress, seamlessly within the same ‘familiar’ location. For some, previously the lack of appropriate care for older people with disabilities has meant that they have been forced to spend their final days in a hospital environment.

In addition, people living with older carers are increasingly going to out live their parents. Parents’ worst fears are based on the lack of facilities available for their adult children when they are no longer able to care for them. Wallara presently supports a number of parents over 80 who support a child who is 50+ years old. These parents and others like them, could live in the Wintringham Aged Care facility on the same site as their family member with a disability, supported by Wallara. This integrated support promotes continuity of the family group and provides vital peace of mind for the parents.

Collaborating to Innovate

This project is of national importance in that it’s the first of its kind and it meets an increasing unmet need. Through this joint venture between a disability support provider and aged care provider, people with disabilities will be offered ‘rights of passage’ into an aged care facility.

Furthermore, interest has been expressed by several other service providers to learn more about the redevelopment and how they can apply it to their own services. The success of this project will ultimately be determined by the improvement in quality of life for each person. Wallara will regularly meet with people supported and conduct surveys to determine what resources and aspects of community life are important to them. Through the analysis of this data plans will be developed to increase services and supports such as access to health services, community safety, transport and other specific concerns.

Consultation and Transition

The Wallara Redevelopment addresses complex issues by employing principles of best practice:

The organisation has re-engaged with individual families to ensure their interests and preferences are met.
100+ people who use to attend Day services on the Potter Street site now attend more local services developed by Wallara. Services are now placed locally and designed to support people to live successfully in the community, which involves interacting with people in the community and participating in the life of the community. This can no longer be accomplished from a large Centre.
The transitioning of people into the Wintringham program will create additional vacancies in Supported Accommodation provided by Wallara.

Facilities Based on Choice

The collaboration between Wallara and Wintringham will extend beyond merely co locating together, and involves integrated support services and shared facilities.

New multi-purpose high support community centre catering for 20 people with disabilities who have high support needs and prefer a sensory program.
Wintringham Aged Care facility supporting 60 people, including people transitioning from Wallara. Ideal for older parents or carers struggling within their own homes in the broader community.
Adjacent integrated Community Residential Units accommodating 10 residents, previously living at Cussen House. These beds are funded under Shared Supported Accommodation, Disability Services.
The Disability Housing Trust has funded three independent living units accommodating people who choose to live independently with support available only when required.
Wallara and Wintringham Offices and Administration facilities