Safe haven: Highton supported living apartments the first in state rollout

AN APARTMENT development in Highton that supports people with mental illness is the first in a $49.2 million rollout of Supported Independent Living (SIL) housing across Victoria.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Housing Minister Richard Wynne visited the Roslyn Road site of the 16 one-bedroom apartments, built at a cost of just over $5 million, on Tuesday this week.

The Haven Foundation and community mental health service provider Mind Australia are collaborating to build the 162 homes at nine sites across the state, and the Highton apartments are the first SILs to be completed and occupied by tenants.

Each of the units include self-contained kitchens, bathrooms and laundry facilities, a private courtyard or balcony, and air-conditioning in living and bedroom spaces.

Two of the units are fully disability-compliant dwellings, meeting Living House Australia “gold level” standards.

Car parking and bicycle storage are also provided, and the buildings will feature a 6 Star energy rating and include solar electricity.

Mind Australia will provide NDIS-funded SIL services, such as the supervision of daily tasks, to help residents live as independently as possible while building their skills.

The SIL homes are made available to eligible National Disability Insurance Scheme participants aged 18-65 on a referral basis, with The Haven Foundation and Mind Australia working together to ensure residents are matched appropriately.

The Highton project created 45 jobs (10 direct and 35 indirect).

“We’re committed to building a mental health system that is tailored to the needs of Victorians,” Mr Andrews said.

“That means delivering more services and care that supports Victorians at every stage of living with an illness.”

Geelong MP Christine Couzens said Labor’s investments in Geelong would ensure the most vulnerable community members had they support they needed.

The four newest additions to the SIL rollout in Seymour, Ballarat North, Bendigo and Drouin have been funded through Labor’s Big Housing Build.

South Barwon MP Darren Cheeseman said the Big Housing Build would invest $1.25 billion in regional Victoria, including at least $180 million in the greater Geelong area.

Labor says its Big Housing Build will deliver more than 12,000 new homes across Victoria, while creating an average of 10,000 jobs per year over the next four years.

This will include 2,000 homes for Victorians living with mental illness, ensuring provision of adequate housing – one of the recommendations in the final report of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.