Construction Begins on ECH Retirement Village & Montessori Early Learning Centre in Modbury
ECH partners with SA Montessori to deliver intergenerational first.
Construction has officially commenced on one of Australia’s first retirement villages incorporating a Montessori Early Learning Centre, thanks to a partnership between leading ageing care provider ECH (Enabling Confidence at Home) and SA Montessori.
ECH Chief Executive Dr David Panter said the partnership will not only see a range of intergenerational activities implemented across ECH Day Programs, it has also provided an opportunity to co-locate a new SA Montessori Early Learning Centre within the $42.5M 85 Smart Road Development.
Construction on the one-of-a-kind vertical retirement living village will start on 19 November 2019 with an Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony conducted by Aboriginal Elder Mickey Kumatpi Marrutya O’Brien.
“A smoking ceremony is an ancient aboriginal custom in Australia that involves burning various native plants to produce smoke, which has cleansing properties and the ability to ward off bad spirits from the people and the land and make a pathway for a brighter future,” says Dr Panter.
To be built by Sarah Constructions and designed by Walter Brooke and Aplin Cook Gardner Architects, the 85 Smart Road development also features a community garden, café, gym, community hall/lounge and allied health services. Dr Panter said at the peak of construction up to 150 workers are anticipated to be on site at 85 Smart Road in Modbury. The development is surrounded by Westfield Tea Tree Plaza, the O’Bahn Interchange, Modbury Hospital and other community and healthcare services.
The new 85 Smart Road Development features innovative dementia-friendly principles and is informed by key design principles created through community consultation.
About ECH:
Enabling Confidence at Home (ECH) is a leading not-for-profit provider of services that promote self-determination and enable people to have the best possible life as they age. ECH supports more than 15,000 people and employs about 650 staff, including home support workers, allied and other health professionals, maintenance teams and administrators.
About SA Montessori:
SA Montessori is a group of six early learning and care services in Adelaide. The founder and CEO, Barbara Langford, established the first of these centres 30 years ago for her daughter, Jessica, who is now a business partner in this family venture. Barbara has grown her business through her passion to provide high quality education and care for children. Two of the SA Montessori centres have received the coveted ‘Excellent Rating’ twice in a row, making them the only centres in SA to receive this honour. The National Regulatory Authority ACECQA awards this rating to centres that show outstanding leadership and lighthouse practice that exemplifies the best in Australia.
READ ABOUT MORE INTERGENERATIONAL PLAYGROUPS IN SA HERE
For more information and all enquiries please visit the ECH website.
What: ECH Retirement Village & Montessori Early Learning Centre
When: Construction beginning Tuesday 19 November 2019
Where: 85 Smart Road, Modbury
Who: Everyone
At Play & Go Adelaide we make every effort to provide accurate information to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication. We recommend confirming times, dates and details directly before making any plans as details may be subject to change.
Image Source: supplied
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