Wattle Cottage
The Golden Wattle symbolism mirrors the fragile yet enduring spirit of little warriors like Joey and Carmella, who bravely faced their significant battles. At Wattle Cottage, we honour their legacy by providing a haven of care and support for children with life-limiting conditions and their families. The Golden Wattle serves as a reminder of the strength and unity within our community, reflecting our commitment to supporting these courageous children and their families every step of the way.
Families who care for a child or a young person with a life-debilitating condition often do so around the clock for many years, and our team is committed to providing much-needed relief, support, and rejuvenation for caregivers while ensuring continuous high-quality care for their loved ones.
Drawing from successful models in the United Kingdom and a select few other countries, our respite and wellness centre will enhance existing in-home support services by providing additional 24-hour respite support and care at Wattle Cottage.
Wattle Cottage is a fit-for-purpose facility featuring large living areas, spacious 5 guest’s bedrooms, 2 large accessible bathrooms , accessible kitchen, dedicated staff area , play , sensory and therapy areas, and expansive grounds including play area, fruit trees orchard, vegetables beds and large swimming pool.
Renovations at Wattle Cottage have been underway for the past couple years, laying the groundwork for a vital community-based specialist respite and wellness centre for children and their families. We aim to open it for public view and start accepting referrals later in the year.
Wattle Cottage will focus on providing respite care , crisis and emergency breaks for families, ensuring that families can take a break while knowing their child or young person is receiving the best care possible. Our vision is to create an environment that feels like a ‘home’ away from home, offering a holistic approach to respite and wellness for children and their family unit
Respite Care
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Regular overnight Respite: Offering families scheduled breaks to alleviate the demands of continuous care.
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Weekend Respite: Providing weekend stays to support families needing time off.
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Emergency Care: Available for unexpected situations requiring immediate support.
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Transition Care: Assisting families as their child's condition changes, providing smooth transitions between different stages of care.
Day Programs
Engaging activities and support available during the day to enhance the well-being of children and young people.
Wellness Programs
music therapy; sensory room and sensory indoor gym; arts , crafts and messy play ; gardening; cooking and homesteading, on-site hydrotherapy and of course lots of fun, including road trips and community visits.
Family Accommodation
Parents can stay on-site in their own separate bedroom with an ensuite, ensuring comfort and proximity to their child.
Family Support
Building strong relationships and offering continuous support as the child’s condition progresses. Family support will also allows caregivers to maintain social connections, participate in community activities, and reduce feelings of loneliness.
Support Network
Respite care services often connect families with support networks, peer groups, and resources for additional assistance. We will be establishing a Family and Supporters Advisory Group to the Board. This group will provide a platform for families and supporters to share their insights, feedback, and suggestions directly with the Board, helping us to continuously improve our services. In time, we will extend an invitation to all interested families to participate in this advisory group. The purpose of the Advisory Group is to ensure that your voices are heard and that the services we provide are truly responsive to the needs and preferences of those we support.
Our Vision of Services at Wattle Cottage
