Bunbunarik Heathcote Children's Hub

20/09/2025

18/09/2025

13/08/2024

22/02/2023

Dementia Village Proposal for Heathcote

It is unfortunate that Advance Heathcote were unable to secure an operator for Gilbruk Place, Dementia Village, not through the lack of trying.

Despite this considerable setback, the Heathcote Dementia Alliance (HDA) is continuing to work on a two-staged Care Villa model, a research centre, peer support program and an innovation ‘Green Care’ initiative.

- Costerfield House, our prototype display Care Villa has begun after many hiccups along the way, including flooding. The Villa is expected to arrive on site at Heathcote Health in May 2023.
Independent Living was just one of the many recommendations that came from the Dementia Village feasibility study, others included, a research centre, caring for the carer and Green Care. HDA has been working on all of these.
Our answer to independent living accommodation was to provide those living with dementia, housing solutions comprising fit for purpose equitable and affordable accommodation to facilitate independence, quality of life, ability to age in place and to remain in the community. The first stage was to design an affordable, transportable 1.5 bedroom Care Villa. The Villa has been designed and allows for great thermal comfort and indoor air quality. It will be fitted with the latest artificial intelligence, Internet of things and adjustable wearables technology. The second stage of this initiative has also begun, our Cluster Community concept. Clusters will replicate a small community consisting of care villas, private and shared gardens and a community space for resident’s socialisation and telehealth consults.
An outcome from the large amount of interest shown in our concept has been the formation of Care Villas Australia Ltd CVA with the intent to create a social enterprise. CVA continues to work on the design and planning, forming collaborations and partnerships with key stakeholders. Work has commenced on our two Cluster Community pilot sites. Two sites have been identified, Heathcote the southern end of the Loddon Mallee region and Merbein (Mildura) located at the northern end. We will concentrate our efforts on Merbein whilst looking for alternative land options for the Heathcote pilot.

- Another outcome has been the creation of our Futures Hub, located on the Heathcote Health campus. This is where innovation starts and ideas and concepts are created. Our aim is to reduce energy wasting competition and increase cooperation and collaboration across disciplines and institutions involved in dementia innovation, education, and research.

- The Human Services Skills Organisation have teamed with HDA to create Pathways for carers leading to flexible volunteer, work and employment opportunities by facilitating better access and innovative approaches to building and/or training and accessing workforce. La Trobe University has provided exclusive licence to HDA to translate and implement their $1.8m online peer support program – Verily Connect. This work is underway.

- HDA has applied for a $1.6m grant (4-year project) in collaboration with Heathcote Health, several aged care /in-home care providers and La Trobe University to conduct an Australian First Innovation, providing alternative respite options for people living with early-stage dementia (PLWD) and their carers based on immersion into nature and green environments.

At HDA we continually seek to bring new ways of solving old problems by demonstrating inclusion, community connectedness and care.
For further information contact Sandra Slatter HDA President – [email protected] or 0417 350911

04/11/2020

04/09/2020

Upcoming online Workshop!