Australian Unity is pleased to announce that it has been successful in its endeavours to develop a Wellbeing Precinct in Carlton to provide accommodation and services for Melbourne's ageing population.
A joint venture between Australand and St Hilliers was recently announced as the preferred tender for the Victorian Government's Carlton Housing Redevelopment project. The Bid proposal included Australian Unity's Wellbeing Precinct comprising a retirement village, residential aged care facility and community wellbeing centre.
The $180 million investment by Australian Unity in the Precinct will create around 150 new, permanent jobs and accommodate 400 residents. Australian Unity Retirement Living will work with Australand, St Hilliers and the Office of Housing to deliver this outcome.
"The innovative Carlton Housing Redevelopment project allows Australian Unity to promote social connectivity and deliver a range of care services and accommodation options for older Australians living in or retiring to inner city Melbourne," says Derek McMillan, Group Executive of Australian Unity Retirement Living.
According to a Community Infrastructure Report commissioned by the Office of Housing and the City of Melbourne, community health and aged services facilities were identified as priorities for Carlton in the next ten years.
"Within the Carlton neighbourhood, 10 percent of the population is aged over 60 years with the strongest growth to 2021 projected to be in the 70 to 74 age bracket. Carlton also has a high proportion of sole person households and the highest number of people receiving Home and Community Care Services in the City of Melbourne," Mr McMillan says.
According to Mr McMillan, the Carlton Wellbeing Precinct will be particularly appealing for older Melburnians because of the location.
"Inner city facilities dedicated to our ageing population are scarce in Melbourne. People often have to leave the community they live in to access the services and accommodation they require. Australian Unity's Wellbeing Precinct is within walking distance of Lygon Street and Princes Park, while the Carlton Gardens, Royal Melbourne Zoo, Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Building are also nearby, providing many recreational activities for residents. Importantly, the area is also well serviced by public transport," Mr McMillan says.
According to Mr McMillan, the Wellbeing Precinct is planned to offer a range of wellbeing services for the aged which have been successfully piloted in other Australian Unity communities.
"Thanks to the National Respite for Carers Program initiative from the Federal Government, we have been able to demonstrate in Western Sydney the social benefits of day respite for carers services, whether delivered in the home or through our day respite centre. Our aim is to replicate these highly valued services in Carlton."
The wellbeing centre, which will be the centrepiece of the development is planned to include a day respite centre, a seniors friendly gym and pool, as well as consulting and treatment suites.
Development of the wellbeing centre and residential aged care facility will commence when the aged care bed licences are allocated and other approvals obtained. The development of the retirement village will then follow.
Australian Unity provides healthcare, financial planning, investment, and retirement living services to more than 400,000 Australians.
Australian Unity's history as a trusted mutual organisation dates back more than 165 years. Its business approach can be summed up as developing and providing health, financial and lifestyle services capable of making a difference to the wellbeing of members, customers, employees and communities.
Australian Unity's Retirement Living business provides accommodation and related services to retirees. It operates 15 retirement communities, a range of community care services and four residential aged care facilities in New South Wales and Victoria. These facilities offer over 1,700 independent living units and approximately 450 aged care beds.
A core strategy is to provide a range of services - independent living units, residential aged care and community services - in the same location, wherever possible. This approach means residents can stay in the home and community of their choosing for as long as possible with access to the necessary services they require as they age.
