A $30,000 windfall will help an Inverell service agency upgrade its building assets to offer more all-weather access for clients.
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The Inverell Home and Community Care service will move out into an old exposed courtyard space after receiving state government grant to fund the rebuild. The refurbishment will allow year-round access to the courtyard.
“The courtyard really can only be used for less than four months a year; it’s so hot in summer and so cold in winter, that we can’t utilise it more often. And neighbouring businesses close to it mean it’s often too dusty and noisy because it’s not protected or enclosed,” HAAC co-ordinator for dementia and carer support Sandy Jeffrey said.
“Enclosing the space will provide a protected area, not just for our dementia clients, but also a quieter room.”
She said the funding would allow them to build a Queenslander-style space with windows in the courtyard area and expand a range of activities for clients.
The chair of the agency’s management committee Margaret Lenord said the new addition would give them vital extra space for meetings, volunteer training and extended program activities, not just for HACC clients but also for other community groups.
Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall welcomed the news and said the Community Building Partnership funds will help HACC expand their activities for their huge clientele.
“Inverell HACC has over 1,000 people it helps with its home assistance, social support, transport and dementia and carer support programs,” Mr Marshall said.
“In the last quarter it had some 700 people accessing those services, so you can appreciate the wonderful job it does and the financial help it gets from government is value-adding to that. This government program is partnering HACC to continue to offer that exceptional level of support in its community.”
Operating with seven staff and over 40 volunteers, HACC is the only provider of dementia-specific day respite facility in Inverell.
“It delivers innovative and strength-based programs to assist people with low to moderate dementia and there’s a waiting list right now for access from locals for those types of activities, so this new space will cater for that growing demand,” Mr Marshall said.
