News

Construction has begun for the $3.6 million state-of-the-art Kids’ Rehabilitation Centre at the McKellar Centre.
The build, funded entirely by the Barwon Health Foundation Kids Appeal through community and business donations, will take approximately six months to complete.
The Kids’ Rehabilitation Centre will be home to the Barwon Health-operated Victorian Paediatric Rehabilitation Service (VPRS) and Young Adults Transition Service (YATS), providing a purpose-built space for children and adolescents to undergo rehabilitation.
The Centre will support families in a purpose-built space that will include a rehabilitation gym, therapy kitchen, outdoor therapy garden and family-friendly treatment rooms.
Barwon Health chief executive Frances Diver said consumer involvement from children and families had been a key part of the design process.
“The McKellar Kids Paediatric Rehabilitation Centre project used a Human Centre Co-Design Process, starting with what our consumers wanted and needed in the centre,” Frances said.
“The result is a child-friendly facility that will support the rehabilitation needs for hundreds of children, young adults and their families every year, close to home.
“The centre provides the flexibility to provide services to both VPRS and YATS clients and allows for future growth and adaptability.”
One family who have been part of the consultation process is Braxton and his grandmother Sandra McLaglen, who are excited to see the Kids Rehabilitation Centre come to life.
“Braxton has been a client of VPRS for almost five years and both Braxton and I have been involved in the consumer consultation since the beginning, providing input into the design,” Sandra said.
“VPRS are our lifeline of support in every aspect of Braxton’s care and it’s great that children will now have an appropriate space to be noisy and fun during their rehabilitation appointments.”
Barwon Health Foundation executive director Zoe Waters thanked the community for their support and hopes to continue to rally more donations to fund the remaining $150,000 needed for the Kids Appeal.
“We hope the community will get behind the Kids Appeal this tax time and help fund the remaining $150,000 to complete the project.
To donate to the Barwon Health Foundation’s Kids Appeal please visit www.barwonhealthfoundation.org.au or phone 4215 8900.

Quote from John Eren, State Member for Lara
“Fantastic collaboration between community and businesses to build a state of the art rehabilitation facility that will help thousands of children and young people through a difficult period of their lives. Congratulations to all involved.”

Quote from Christine Couzens, State Member for Geelong:
“This rehabilitation centre will provide a much-needed space for children and teenagers, from the Geelong region, to undergo the rehabilitation they need, in a family-friendly environment.”

Quote from David Tudor, Regional Manager Geelong, Bendigo Bank
“Bendigo Bank and our community partners in the Greater Geelong region are proud supporters of the new McKellar Kids’ Rehabilitation Centre at Barwon Health. The Barwon Health Foundation’s community campaign to fund the new Centre goes back several years with Bendigo Bank and our community partners providing support right from the very start.
We are really looking forward to the official opening of the centre later this year and for children, like Braxton, to benefit from the new facilities built specifically for kids with rehabilitation needs throughout our region. This commitment is one of many ways we provide support to the community across the Greater Geelong region.”