Resthaven Northern Community Services

In response to projected growth in South Australia’s aged population, Resthaven explored opportunities to expand its community services, with particular focus on establishing a physical presence in the northern metropolitan region. Demographic analysis and market research identified this area as having the greatest forecast growth and a significant shortage of aged care services compared with more established suburbs.

Resthaven actively participated in the 'Northern Healthy Ageing Project' alongside Helping Hand, Anglicare and the Royal District Nursing Service. This collaborative, multi-agency initiative aimed to maximise healthy ageing for older people in the northern suburbs through education, early intervention and rehabilitation services. A key outcome of the project was the development of a comprehensive resource directory, which detailed services offered by participating agencies and strengthened interagency referral pathways.

In April 2000, Resthaven accepted an invitation from the Aboriginal Elders and Community Care Services Board and the Department of Health and Aged Care to undertake short-term management of the Aboriginal Elders Village at Davoren Park, including a formal review of service provision. The contract commenced on 1 June 2000 and concluded nine months later, after which management transferred to the Italian Benevolent Foundation.

As part of the redevelopment of Resthaven Leabrook, Leabrook Therapy Services was planned for relocation to the northern metropolitan suburbs in response to identified areas of greatest community need. Particularly, demographic analysis of the Elizabeth area confirmed strong growth in the aged population and a shortage of therapy and aged care services. Delays in securing suitable land for a purpose-built facility led to interim arrangements in December 2000, with premises leased at Elizabeth TAFE on Woodford Road, marking the establishment of Resthaven Northern Therapy Services.

Resthaven Northern Therapy Services officially opened at Elizabeth in March 2001. Overall, the strategic decision to relocate Therapy Services away from the residential aged care environment was intended to raise Resthaven’s community profile and aligned with additional funding granted in the Salisbury area. Community and service provider response was strong, with services almost fully subscribed soon after opening.

After an extended search for permanent premises, land was purchased at 16 Gillingham Road, Elizabeth, adjacent to the Elizabeth Shopping Centre. The Playford Council approved plans for a purpose-built, standalone therapy centre, funded by Resthaven at a cost of $1 million.

The new facility was completed in January 2003, with staff transferring to the new facility shortly thereafter. Designed by Brown Falconer Architects, the new facility provided high-quality spaces for one-on-one treatment and group interventions, with services including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, podiatry and specialist continence management services. Within a few months, staff transferred to the new facility.

The brand new Resthaven Northern Therapy Services building was officially opened on 30 May 2003 by the Australian Government Minister for Health and Ageing, Hon Kevin Andrews. The event was attended by Resthaven staff and clients, industry representatives and local health providers, as well as the State Minister for Health, Hon Lea Stevens; Federal Member for Bonython, Hon Martyn Evans; and the Mayor of Playford, Ms Marilyn Baker.

In October 2004, the Minister for Ageing, Hon Julie Bishop, visited the Elizabeth office, accompanied by Senator Jeannie Ferris and David Fawcett MP, Member for Wakefield.

In October 2004, Resthaven Northern Therapy Services became the base for the newly established Playford Home Support Service. Funded through Home and Community Care grants, the program provided flexible, basic assistance to help older people with chronic conditions manage everyday activities and continue living independently in their own homes.

Key priorities of the Resthaven Strategic Plan were aligned with initiatives across Community Services, resulting in a consistent approach to branding and presentation of information and consolidation of management activities. As part of this process, a new naming convention was adopted across Resthaven’s home care services, and the service was renamed Resthaven Northern Community Services.

Home care services expanded with the introduction of Extended Aged Care at Home packages, designed to support older people with very high nursing and care needs to remain living in the community rather than entering high-level residential care. In addition, Resthaven collaborated with Playford Council to establish new local programs at Virginia and service delivery at Davoren Park using council-provided accommodation.

With outreach programs in Virginia and Davoren Park, along with an occupational therapy clinic at The Palms Residential Village, client numbers increased by 15% for the financial year.

Resthaven Northern Community Services received government funding to commence the Northern Independent Living Unit project. The project aimed to research and better understand the needs of older people living in independent living units across the Playford and Salisbury areas, particularly those at risk of social isolation or loneliness. The study sought to trial strategies to improve access to information, encourage self-referral and strengthen residents’ connection with their local communities.

In July 2007, Resthaven established the Northern Community Advisory Group, the first of seven such groups across the organisation. Meeting two to three times a year, the group provided valuable grassroots input, supporting Resthaven’s understanding of the needs and perspectives of residents, clients, and the wider community.

Resthaven Northern Community Services developed a successful partnership with Aboriginal Home Care to deliver a monthly health and lifestyle program for up to 15 Aboriginal clients. The program focused on supporting people living with chronic conditions, particularly diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and included group-based education on healthy lifestyle topics alongside individual therapy services such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, podiatry, continence management and dietetics.

To accommodate service growth, three additional offices were constructed on the western end of the building, with completion in December 2007.

In May 2009, Resthaven Northern Community Services participated in a pilot of a new, simplified Quality Reporting model for Commonwealth and State-funded aged care programs. The pilot achieved a satisfactory outcome and provided an opportunity for the service to contribute to the national policy agenda for Community Aged Care, receiving excellent feedback for its participation.

The Northern Independent Living Unit project concluded after engaging with 20 independent living units and over 900 residents across the Playford and Salisbury areas. Targeted support was provided to 91 residents through information provision, referrals to social activities, in-home care and social support, and assistance in addressing barriers such as transport, continence concerns and low confidence. An independent evaluation confirmed high levels of resident satisfaction, particularly valuing social companionship and improved awareness of available services, while professional development sessions strengthened connections and support networks among staff.

On 9 November 2010, Resthaven Northern Community Services celebrated Resthaven’s 75th anniversary with a morning tea and musical entertainment by the local community group. The day was attended by 180 clients, staff and volunteers, with Playford City Council Mayor, Martin Lindsall, officiating the morning and cutting the anniversary cake.

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Resthaven Northern Community Services was awarded a ‘Positive Ageing’ grant to increase social connectedness for older people living in retirement villages in the northern metropolitan suburbs.

On 3 December 2012, the annual Christmas luncheon for Resthaven Northern Community Services was made extra special with donations from the Paralowie Lions Club ($1,000) and the Elizabeth Lions Club ($500). Held at the Central Districts Football Club, the contributions allowed attendees to take home individual Christmas hampers as an unexpected festive gift.

On 20 June 2014, Resthaven Northern Community Services participated in the 'International Aged Care Open Day', with the office well-attended by clients and their families. The inaugural global event was organised by Aged & Community Services Australia (later known as ACCPA) to celebrate the positive work within the aged care sector.

Additional government funding for home care packages prompted an expansion of Resthaven Northern Community Services, requiring extra staff and new office space to coordinate services. On 9 February 2016, the council approved development plans for a proposed $400,000 extension to the site, with the project entering the detailed design phase.

Construction of the building extension commenced on 23 May 2016, with Affinitas engaged as the builder. The upgrade included a two new offices, refurbishment of the existing office, new carpeting throughout, and plans for a mural to enliven the Gillingham Road-facing walls.

In July 2016, Resthaven commissioned local artist John Whitney to create an intergenerational mural on an exterior wall facing Gillingham Road. Assisted by Resthaven staff and clients, along with four local young adults who volunteered their time, the six-panel artwork was developed at VTECH in Davoren Park. Installed in August 2016, the mural added vibrancy to the site, depicting the local region and range of available services.

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The redevelopment and extension of Resthaven Northern Community Services, including the intergenerational mural, was completed on 2 August 2016 and officially opened on 4 November 2016. The extension provided much-needed space for a larger staff team to meet increased demand in the northern suburbs, while the mural transformed a plain exterior wall into a vibrant community feature.

In August 2018, the gym underwent a significant expansion and refurbishment. With the upgrade, clients benefitted from the larger, modern space and wide range of new equipment.

In January 2019, Resthaven Northern 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.

In early 2020, Resthaven Northern Community Services 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.

Whilst the COVID-19 pandemic later disrupted many of Resthaven’s planned 85th anniversary celebrations, Resthaven Northern Community Services was able to mark the milestone just in time, hosting a small morning tea in February 2020.

A flagship initiative developed in response to COVID-19 restrictions was Keeping Active with Parkinson’s at Home—an exercise program featuring specialised routines provided on a USB for clients living with Parkinson’s. The initiative supported clients to remain physically active while at home, offering a clear and structured routine focused on movement and mobility. An accompanying action planning approach also supported goal-setting and progress tracking through regular check-ins.

In response to growing demand for in-home support, Resthaven Northern Community Services established a new outreach office at 5 King Street, Gawler. Purchased in July 2020 and subsequently renovated, the office officially opened on 19 October 2020. The new office provided onsite health and wellness support, including restorative care, occupational and physiotherapy, exercise programs, vision support, in-home care coordination, and respite for carers. Social group programs were introduced six months after opening.

Additional funding enabled the expansion of centre-based respite services, as well as support for home modifications in the lower Barossa region.

In May 2021, two Resthaven Northern Community Services clients participated in the ABC television segment Australia Talks, sharing perspectives on discrimination in Australia. Filmed at the Para Hills Football and Sports Club, the segment featured participants from diverse backgrounds and aired nationally the following month.

In December 2021, Resthaven Northern Community Services began a long-anticipated upgrade of its communal garden. To reduce maintenance, the client gardening group chose a design focused on creating a more self-sustainable space.

On 3 May 2022, staff and clients welcomed a visit from staff at the local Bunnings, as part of their Community Program. The garden club participated in a planting workshop in the newly upgraded communal garden and received donations such as vegetable seedlings, flowers, hanging pots, and gloves.

On 19 September 2025, Resthaven Northern Community Services hosted an Open Day to celebrate Resthaven’s 90th anniversary. The day included arts and crafts, courtyard games, exercise demonstrations and a photo display of recent social activities. The event was opened by Manager Community Services Marilou Trocio and CEO Darren Birbeck, with the Mayor of Playford Glenn Docherty as a special guest. Longstanding client Mrs Barbara Hore, who also turned 90 that year, cut the celebratory cake.