Waurn Ponds has a new bed-based overnight and end-of-life facility to provide people diagnosed with a life-limiting illness with more care options.
Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Corio Richard Marles officially opened Anam Cara House Geelong’s $22.6 million palliative care and 20-bedroom facility on Friday, October 27.
Mr Marles said the federal government contributed $6.7 million to construct the facility and helped the not-for-profit organisation deliver its teaching and research partnership with Deakin University.
“Anam Cara House Geelong is an example of Geelong’s history of innovation and care for the community and it’s a place I have proudly been a supporter of for a very long time,” he said.
“In addition to the care provided in this facility, the partnership with Deakin University will see teaching and research that will support the growth in the health workforce and provide care for generations of Geelong families.”
Anam Cara House Geelong chair Diana Taylor said the facility had been a decade in the making, with end-of-life care operations available from February next year.
“This project has been a vision for our community for almost 10 years,” she said.
“This facility will support our community members on their care journey by providing additional choice in palliative care options in a holistic way.”
Deakin University vice-chancellor Professor Iain Martin said he was “immensely proud” of the school’s partnership with Anam Cara, with the new facility on the Waurn Ponds campus.
“Deakin has a strong reputation and record of achievements in health, and we are committed to developing and delivering solutions that improve health care for our communities,” he said.
“Particularly, helping to develop sustainable models of health care delivery, and outcomes that reduce health disparities across the community.”
