New Respite Centre for Illawarra Carers

Illawarra people with intellectual disability and their carers will soon benefit from a new five-suite respite centre in Kemira at IRT William Beach Gardens.

IRT Group announced that a Greenacres Disability Services/Interchange Illawarra partnership had been awarded the contract to operate the respite centre, built as part of IRT's new Community for ageing people with disabilities and their carers.

"Kemira is all about keeping families together," said IRT Group Chief Strategy Officer Stig Andersen.
"The new respite centre will help do this by enabling people with intellectual disability and their ageing carers to get to know our Kemira residents through short stays at the centre.

"It will also assist ageing carers to take better care of themselves by having the confidence to take a break, knowing their loved one is being well cared for at Kemira," he said.

Mr Andersen said Greenacres / Interchange Illawarra were awarded the contract after a competitive tender process.

"The Illawarra is fortunate to have a number of excellent disability service providers," he said.

"However Greenacres / Interchange Illawarra submitted the strongest proposal, demonstrating how they would provide creative, innovative respite services in keeping with the Kemira philosophy."

Greenacres / Interchange Illawarra have welcomed the tender win and look forward to opening the Kemira respite centre in July 2016.

"We're really excited to open the Illawarra's first respite centre specifically geared for people with intellectual disability and their ageing carers," said Interchange Illawarra General Manager, Glenda Pearce.

"Supporting people with disability and their ageing carers is an emerging global issue and we believe Kemira can lead the world in this regard."

Ms Pearce said that people who visit the new respite centre will be able to participate in life skill activities, like cooking and have massages and other life-enriching experiences.

"There's a real shortage of quality respite in the Illawarra," she said.

"The new centre will help address this shortage and provide people with intellectual disability and their ageing carers with a great respite experience."

Click here to find out more about IRT's aged care services.