The first sod’s been turned on a culturally specific independent living village near Ballarat’s CBD.
The state government says the the Elders’ Independent Living Community will help older Aboriginal people share their culture and lead their communities, with the facility to include eight self-contained units, medical support and a vegetable garden.
Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing is in town today to meet with representatives of the Ballarat and District Aboriginal Cooperative (BADAC) to mark the beginning of the multi-million dollar project.
One-hundred and sixty jobs will be created during the construction phase.
There are more than 700 Aboriginal people aged 45 and over across 5 local government areas in western Victoria – including Ballarat, Moorabool, Hepburn, Golden Plains and Pyrenees – who may need support in their later years.
