Enriching the quality of life of those living in their own homes in the local community, the Resthaven Paradise Day Therapy Centre opened in March 1980 at 61 Silkes Road, Paradise. Services included physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry and nursing.
A friendly competition between Resthaven Paradise Day Therapy Centre and Aldersgate Residential Aged Care resulted in Paradise winning the ‘Day Centre Perpetual Bowling Trophy’. Other activities at the Day Therapy Centre included indoor bowls, various crafts, cooking, oil painting, ceramics, various activity groups, pottery, music groups, mental, physical and table games, and gardening. Trips out on the Resthaven bus were also on the calendar.
The introduction of new reporting for the Commonwealth resulted in additional work hours for the same outcome. At Paradise Day Therapy Centre, it was noted that what in Dec 1987 was taking 46 hours, in Jan 1988 took 167 hours. Albeit this number did reduce throughout the year.
Paradise Day Therapy centre hours and catchment area were extended due to the closure of the Day therapy centre at the North Eastern Community Hospital in December 1988. Resthaven Paradise Day Therapy centre was given an increase in staffing to accommodate the increased numbers of clients. The increase also resulted in a surge in podiatry appointments, which forced the podiatry books to be closed to new patients.
To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Resthaven Paradise Community Services in March, an open day was held in lieu of the annual fete.
To meet the interests of Paradise Day Therapy clients, the building of a kiln room was completed at the end of February. This allowed clients to enjoy pottery activities at the site.
Paradise Day Therapy staff and volunteers ran a ‘Bottle Stall’ as part of the 'Super Trading Day’. New indoor bowl mats were purchased with the money raised, as this activity continued to be popular, providing pleasure, excellent therapy and the challenge to win, especially when competing with Aldersgate Residential Aged Care.
In association with Flinders University, a Speech Therapy program was established at Paradise Day Therapy. An experienced Speech Pathologist was appointed to supervise student speech pathologists at Paradise, who were brought in after a steady increase in the number of client referrals. Improved communication played a key role in building a client's self-esteem and helped to achieve wider rehabilitation goals.
Building on the speech therapy groups at the site, a speech pathology ‘Talk Back’ group was established. The group was for people living with aphasia and was very successful.
Combining Resthaven Paradise Therapy Services and the Eastern region community programs, Resthaven Paradise and Eastern Community Services was established.
Resthaven Paradise and Eastern Community Services established Café Paradiso, a coffee and chat group for isolated clients in the area. The ‘café’ received strong support from the Italian community, who donated a coffee machine to the site.
A major redevelopment project commenced at Resthaven Paradise in the later part of the year. The first stage of this was involved the relocation of the Community Services to the western side of the site, where one of the residential ‘lodges’ was converted to house the services.
The official opening of the Resthaven Paradise and Eastern Community Services new premises was held on 17 October 2008. The refurbished space was considered much more efficient, flexible and was appreciated by staff and clients.
To create better outcomes for stroke sufferers, Resthaven Paradise and Eastern Community Services participated in the Stroke Rehabilitation model evaluation.
With the five-year restructure of community services completed, Resthaven Northeast and Inner West Community Services was redefined, separating into Resthaven Paradise and Eastern Community Services and Resthaven Western Community Services. As a result, Resthaven’s office at Manningham was reallocated as an outreach office of Resthaven Paradise and Eastern Community Services, with all staff and clients experiencing a smooth transition.
To mark the 75th anniversary of Resthaven, on 16 December 2010, Paradise and Eastern Community Services held their Christmas Finale of the Campbelltown ‘Keep Fit’ program.
To extend the operating base in the eastern metropolitan area, the Resthaven Agedcare Alternatives site, 1/445 Fullarton Road, Highgate, was expanded to include a service outlet for Resthaven Paradise and Eastern Community Services.
On 3 November, 2015, Resthaven Paradise and Eastern Community Services opened its doors for an Open Day. It was same day as the Melbourne Cup, and attendees were invited to stay and watch the race. Therapies showcased at the Open Day included physiotherapy, podiatry, occupational therapy, speech pathology and hydrotherapy.
To maintain modern facilities, additional fit outs were completed at the Resthaven Paradise and Eastern Community Services building.
On 12 July 2019, almost 50 Resthaven Paradise and Eastern Community Services clients enjoyed a festive ‘Christmas in July’ themed bus trip to the Adelaide Hills. The first stop was Ferryden Park, for a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of the Christmas pageant float workshop. Clients were delighted to learn how the floats were built and to see all the costumes worn by pageant participants. Other stops on the trip included the Woodside Hotel and Melba’s Chocolate factory.
Unfortunately, with the advent of the COVID 19 pandemic, the Resthaven Paradise and Eastern Community Services’ planned celebrations to mark Resthaven’s 85th anniversary were not able to go ahead.
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On Monday, 28 June 2021 Old McDonald's Farm visited Chats'n More Respite group at Resthaven Paradise and Eastern Community Services. In preparation for the visit, clients decorated the walls and windows of the site, as well as reserved a space in the car park to welcome little lambs, ducks, chicken, guinea pigs and rabbits.
On 21 September, 2023 Resthaven Paradise and Eastern Community Services held their first ‘Spinning Yarns’ social group session. The group was established in response to client requests and group projects include knitting blankets to gift to the homeless for Christmas.
In May 2024, Resthaven officially opened the new Resthaven Paradise & Eastern Community Services office at Sefton Park. The office was relocated from Manningham to the larger, more spacious office.
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