Resthaven Murray Mallee Hills Community Services

The very first of Resthaven’s home care services began in Murray Bridge in mid-1990, when the residential aged care home launched a hostel option program called ‘Links’. Providing hostel services to people still living in their own homes in the local community, the program included serving three meals a day, assistance with showering, dressing and medical needs, and cleaning.

Following the trial of the hostel ‘Links’ program and other community programs, a Community Programs Department was established at Resthaven Head Office, with two staff appointed. Over the first six months of operation, the team researched the needs of older people to remain living in their own homes and established a number of small but unique programs.

With the continued development of home care services, the Australian Government introduced Community Aged Care Packages to support older people with higher care needs to remain living at home. Resthaven participated in this newly established program. At Resthaven Murray Bridge, the residential reforms and shift toward community-based care impacted the nature of services offered. The innovative outreach hostel ‘Links’ program was redefined in October 1997 to become a Community Aged Care Package program.

In partnership with Murray Bridge Lutheran Homes, Resthaven Murray Bridge Community Programs trialled the ‘Retirement Villages Pilot’, a three-year Commonwealth-funded initiative. The program was launched on 10 November 2003 by the Federal Member for Barker, the Hon Patrick Secker, MP. The program trialled and evaluated new and innovative ways of offering care to people living in retirement villages, with the aim for people to remain in their familiar home environment for as long as possible.

Key priorities of the Resthaven Strategic Plan were aligned across Community Services, resulting in a consistent approach to branding, presentation of information and consolidation of management activities. A new naming convention was adopted for home care services during this period. With the allocation of new Community Aged Care Packages from the government, Resthaven’s home care services expanded to Mannum and Mount Barker. Reflecting the broader service area and this consistent approach to branding, the service was renamed 'Resthaven Murray Bridge and Hills Community Services'.

Catering to the growing need in regional areas, Resthaven leased the first office for Resthaven Murray Bridge and Hills Community Services at 88 Adelaide Road, Murray Bridge. The office was officially opened on 22 November 2005 by the Hon Patrick Secker, Member for Barker.

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On 6 March 2006, Resthaven’s Murray Bridge and Hills Community Services Manager and Service Development Coordinator showcased the innovative Retirement Villages Pilot program at the Tri-State Aged Care Conference in Mildura.

Resthaven continued to build trust with the Indigenous community through partnerships with the Uniting Aboriginal Islander Christian Congress and local health services. Resthaven Murray Bridge and Hills Community Services undertook a new venture, forging relationships with Aboriginal elders in Ngarrindjeri towns Kalparrin, Meningie, Murray Bridge and Raukkan.

In late 2006, Resthaven Murray Bridge and Hills Community Services received a grant from funds raised by the local community as part of the ‘Let’s Make It Happen’ program. The money was used to purchase equipment for the leisure and lifestyle program.

To coordinate services in the hills more efficiently, Resthaven Murray Bridge and Hills Community Services looked to expand their footprint in Mount Barker. In mid-2008, a new office was leased at Victoria Crescent, Mount Barker.

A prime opportunity to formalise presence in the Fleurieu was presented when a small in-home care provider, Strathalbyn Country Care, approached Resthaven to take over its operations, with all clients to be transferred. From 1 June 2010, Resthaven Murray Bridge and Hills Community Services formally commenced operations, based at Unit 2/3 Donald Street, Strathalbyn.

On 14 January 2014, Assistant Minister for Social Services, Senator Mitch Fifield, announced that Resthaven was to receive approximately $1.2 million extra per year in Commonwealth Home and Community Care (HACC) funding, resulting in new services to more than 300 people. A portion of this funding was allocated to Resthaven Murray Bridge and Hills Community Services, allowing extra services to be delivered in the locality.

In mid-2014, a new Lifestyle Choices Wellness and Activities Centre was opened at 5 Anerley Avenue, Murray Bridge. The centre offered a variety of wellness services, including arthritis and Parkinson’s groups and general exercise groups. Extending the range of services available to maximise independence, the centre also offered individual occupational therapy assessment and intervention.

With the opening of the Resthaven Port Elliot residential aged care home on 14 May 2015, the opportunity was also taken to create another outreach office for home care services in the Fleurieu. The heritage-listed old schoolhouse was renovated for this purpose, as well as becoming a wellness and activity centre. To reflect this further expansion, the service was renamed 'Resthaven Murray Bridge, Hills and Fleurieu Community Services'.

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With increasing demand for home care services in the region, in late 2016 Resthaven Murray Bridge, Hills and Fleurieu Community Services relocated to a larger premise at 9 Rankine Street, Strathalbyn. Formerly a restaurant, the repurposed building cost $1.1 million to refurbish. The office housed staff from the Mount Barker office, which had recently closed after eight years, as well as staff who were previously working from the office in Donald Street, Strathalbyn.

On 27 February 2017, locals and dignitaries flocked to the hills for the official opening of the new Strathalbyn office, which was followed by a public Open Day. It was noted that the new office provided much-needed space for extra group programs and activities, with extra staff hired to coordinate high-quality in-home support services.

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On 3 April 2017, the inaugural Southern Fleurieu Parkinson’s Support Group commenced at the ‘Old Schoolhouse’ office in Port Elliot. Run in collaboration with Parkinson’s SA, the group was the only one of its kind in the area.

On 2 December 2018, Resthaven Murray Bridge, Hills and Fleurieu Community Services commenced working from a brand-new office at 37 Swanport Road, Murray Bridge. The purpose-built $1.6 million building was an exciting outcome of the two-year redevelopment of Resthaven Murray Bridge. Located adjacent to the residential aged care home on the northern edge of the site, the centralised office operated all community activities at Murray Bridge, taking over from the two previous premises.

In January 2019, Resthaven Murray Bridge, Hills and Fleurieu Community Services was allocated six new Short-Term Restorative Care (STRC) places, following the success of Resthaven's STRC model. The program provided short-term, multidisciplinary care to help older people maintain or regain functional capacity, improve wellbeing, and delay the need for higher-level home care or residential aged care.

On 18 January 2019, the $18 million Resthaven Murray Bridge redevelopment, encompassing both residential and community services, was officially opened by Resthaven Board President Mark Porter and dedicated by Rev Sue Ellis, Moderator of the Uniting Church in South Australia. The service hub created an ‘aged care precinct’ for older people across the Murraylands and allowed for expected future expansion.

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In early 2020, staff and clients adapted to the restrictions brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, with services rearranged and programs modified to ensure continuity of care. Most services continued uninterrupted, supported by physical distancing and infection control measures, with alternative support provided in clients’ homes where centre-based services were impacted. Unfortunately, the site's planned event to celebrate Resthaven’s 85th anniversary was cancelled.

From 1 July 2021, due to structural changes resulting from the aged care reforms, Alexandrina Council transferred its Commonwealth Home Support Program packages to Resthaven Murray Bridge, Hills and Fleurieu Community Services. Resthaven partnered with the YMCA to support continued access for clients transferring from the Alexandrina Council.

In July 2021, Resthaven Murray Bridge, Hills and Fleurieu Community Services expanded, opening a much-needed additional outreach office at 1 Loveday Street, Goolwa. With high demand due to the age of the local population, the office was purchased to support a growing number of clients in the area.

With continued high demand for services, in June 2022, Resthaven Murray Bridge, Hills and Fleurieu Community Services expanded with a new office at Victoria Street, Victor Harbor. At the same time, a new respite house was purchased, located close to the beach at 1-3 Newland Street, Victor Harbor. The cottage, named ‘Newland House’, underwent several months of renovation.

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On 14 September 2022, Resthaven Executive Manager Sue McKechnie cut the ‘opening ribbon’ for the new respite cottage, Newland House. Providing day and overnight stays for older people, the respite service was designed to give family carers a break from their caring role whilst their loved one is cared for by qualified staff. With small group respite groups held during the day, clients benefit from activities, games, and delicious meals.

Resthaven assumed operation of home care packages in the Fleurieu from another aged care provider, further expanding home care services to regional areas such as Yankalilla, Normanville, and Second Valley. To introduce Resthaven’s presence in this area for the first time, Resthaven Murray Bridge, Hills and Fleurieu Community Services staff attended the Yankalilla Show on 30 September 2023.

With home care packages increasing across regional areas and showing no sign of slowing down, planning was undertaken regarding the future of Resthaven Murray Bridge, Hills and Fleurieu Community Services. It was decided to separate the service and create two regional services: Resthaven Murray Mallee Hills Community Services and Resthaven Fleurieu Community Services. In effect from 1 March 2024, the gradual separation had minimal impact on clients, with both services fully operational by 1 July 2024. Resthaven Murray Mallee Hills Community Services’ primary (and only) office was Murray Bridge. For Resthaven Fleurieu Community Services, the Strathalbyn office became the primary office, with outreach offices in Goolwa, Port Elliot, and Victor Harbor.