Resthaven Paradise and Eastern Community Services

Enriching the quality of life of those living in their own homes in the local community, Resthaven embraced the concept of 'Day Therapy'. The Resthaven Paradise Day Therapy Centre opened in March 1980 at 61 Silkes Road, Paradise, co-located with the newly constructed residential aged care home. Services offered 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’. Beyond bowling, the centre offered a vibrant and varied program of activities designed to support wellbeing and social engagement. Clients enjoyed indoor bowls, crafts, cooking, oil painting, ceramics and pottery, along with music groups, gardening, and a range of mental, physical and table games. Activity groups catered to diverse interests and abilities, ensuring there was something for everyone. Regular outings on the Resthaven bus were also a highlight on the calendar.

The introduction of new reporting requirements for the Commonwealth resulted in increased staff hours to achieve the same outcome. At Paradise Day Therapy Centre, records indicated that tasks which took 46 hours in December 1987 required 167 hours in January 1988. Albeit, this figure reduced over the course of the year.

The centre’s hours of operation and catchment area were extended following the closure of the nearby Day Therapy Centre at the North Eastern Community Hospital in December 1988. Staffing levels were increased to accommodate the rise in client numbers. The growth in demand also led to a significant increase in podiatry appointments, resulting in the podiatry books being closed to new patients.

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of Resthaven Paradise Community Services, an Open Day was held in March 1990.

To meet the interests of clients, a kiln room was constructed and completed at the end of February 1991. This enabled clients to enjoy pottery activities on site.

Bowling continued to be a popular activity at the centre, as demonstrated in the ongoing friendly competition with Aldersgate Residential Aged Care. To support this activity, staff and volunteers ran a ‘Bottle Stall’ as part of the ‘Super Trading Day’. Funds raised were used to purchase new indoor bowl mats, ensuring clients could continue to enjoy the therapy, challenge, and enjoyment that bowling provided.

By June 1993, Resthaven’s 'Hostel Links' program was fully operational at the Resthaven Paradise Day Therapy Centre, managed by Resthaven's Community Programmes Department. The program provided hostel-style services to older people living independently in self-care units within the surrounding council area, including three meals daily, assistance with showering, dressing, medical needs, and cleaning. Hostel Links supported residents to maintain independence while accessing practical care and social connection within their local community.

In association with Flinders University, a permanent Speech Therapy program was established. An experienced Speech Pathologist was appointed to supervise student speech pathologists on site, allowing a greater number of clients to be seen in response to rising referrals. Improving communication was recognised as important for building clients’ self-esteem and supporting broader rehabilitation goals.

A commissioned Management Review recommended aligning Resthaven's Day Therapy Centres with the Community Programs Department, rather than Residential Services as had previously been the case. From 1995, both Day Therapy Centres and Community Programs were brought together under the collective term 'Community Services', with Marion Day Therapy Centre renamed 'Resthaven Marion Therapy Services'.

Building on the existing speech therapy program, a ‘Talk Back’ group for people living with aphasia was established. The group proved to be very successful.

Key priorities of the Resthaven Strategic Plan were aligned with initiatives across Community Services, resulting in a consistent approach to branding, 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 Paradise and Eastern Community Services'. This change brought together Resthaven Paradise Therapy Services and the Eastern region community programs under one service.

Resthaven Paradise and Eastern Community Services continued to develop its relationship with the Italian community, tailoring information and services in the eastern metropolitan areas to better meet their needs. As part of this approach, Café Paradiso, a coffee and chat group for isolated clients, was established. The initiative received strong support from the Italian community, including the donation of a coffee machine for 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.

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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.

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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.

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.