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Young Western Australians living with disabilities will soon have greater access to respite and care services at Rocky Bay’s Lady Lawley Cottage in Cottesloe, thanks to a $950,000 Lotterywest grant.
The generous grant will enable Rocky Bay to commence stage 2 refurbishments at its Cottesloe Hub in early 2025, ensuring the availability of beds to support thousands of respite nights annually.
This initiative addresses the shortfall in paediatric respite services across Western Australia, providing a lifeline for children and families who face challenges accessing the service.
Rocky Bay Managing Director Michael Tait highlighted the importance of the refurbishment project, which is set to deliver respite services to children and youth across the state.
“Since assuming management of Lady Lawley Cottage in 2023, Rocky Bay has been committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive space that meets the evolving needs of young Western Australians with disabilities and their families,” Mr Tait said.
“This generous grant will transform our two accommodation units, into modern spaces offering a range of respite options for children, youth and their families.
“In addition to individual respite, the upgraded facility will support skills development camps, social skills and friendship groups and family-style respite,” Mr Tait said.
Bec, the mother of 16-year-old Rocky Bay customer Lileigh, has been anticipating respite services to resume since the Australian Red Cross delivered the service.
“This is fantastic news, there’s just no place like Lady Lawley Cottage and Lileigh loves coming here,” Bec said.
“It’s been challenging to find respite services in Perth that match Lady Lawley Cottage, so today’s announcement is a huge relief,” said Bec.
Lady Lawley Cottage’s refurbishment will introduce a holistic care model, integrating respite, allied health services, skills development and social programs under one roof.
This innovative approach will establish the hub as one of WA’s leading destinations for disability care and community inclusion.
The announcement was made today at Lady Lawley Cottage by the Hon. Don Punch, Minister for Disability Services, to an audience of supporters, including representatives from Perron Group, Telethon and Lotterywest.
The occasion coincided with International Day of People with Disability, a fitting celebration of the possibilities for children living with disabilities in WA.
Stage 2 refurbishment works are scheduled to begin in January 2025.
