By CASEY NEILL
WALLARA has opened a Pakenham base for helping young adults with disabilities.
The Doherty Street address is the support service’s first Cardinia location in its 55-year history.
Michelle Smith is the general manager for Wallara’s Community Life and High Support Division In-Home Support.
“We’ve actually been looking at this site for the past couple of years. It was a bit pricey, and the price came down,” she said.
“We’ve always wanted to have a site in Cardinia.
“It’s in a really good place because we’re close to public transport – we can get the bus at the end of the street.
“We’ve got the rec centre across the road, we’ve got a gym right next door … ”
Geta Properties bought the previously residential building several years ago.
“They do have another building in the main street of Pakenham which they rented to a community service,” Ms Smith said.
Wallara will use the house for its high support day service, to help participants with communication and independence skills, accessing their community and sensory-based activities.
“Our programs run 9am to 3pm, 46 weeks of the year,” Ms Smith said.
“They are more often than not non-verbal and maybe have physical disabilities along with intellectual disabilities and pretty much need us for just about everything.
“They need a lot of assistance so it’s a small ratio. We can get them out and about into the community.”
Wallara will also use the space for young adults who want to learn more about work options and independent living and travelling skills, and participate in social and recreational activities.
“It’s about people having social roles in the community and making friendships,” Ms Smith said.
The local council, parents and passionate volunteers established Wallara in 1959 to help kids with a disability in the Dandenong area.
It reinvented itself in 2007 and today delivers services to about 550 people from 30 sites across Melbourne’s south east.
Wallara’s mission is to empower the people it supports to live the life they choose.
Call 9792 2985 for more information.
