The sudden closure of a disability day centre in Maddingley threatens to trigger a cascade of “negative outcomes, mental and physical health decline, reduced social connection, and the erosion of meaningful community engagement“ fear families and former staff.
Annecto Incorporated went into liquidation in June ceasing all aged care, veterans and disability services in three states, including Victoria.
The announcement was a devastating blow to the roughly 70 participants and their families who relied on Annecto’s day centre at 2 Bacchus Street, Maddingley.
Mary Boratto’s brother Andrew had been attending group day activities five days a week, 9am to 4pm, at the Bacchus Street hub for 35 years.
“It has been a second home for us and for Andrew in particular. He built long friendships and was supported by incredible staff. He had found his place in the community. It wasn’t just a service, but a lifeline for us as a family,“ said Ms Boratto.
After Andrew’s last day at Annecto on Friday, August 8, he was linked in with a new support provider, Melba Support Services. However Melba offers one-on-one community access, not a day program as Andrew had been used to.
“Andrew’s disability is quite severe so a one-to-one support worker coming into our home restricts us as a family. It doesn’t work for the participants either, they need their hub and place of gathering. All those friendship groups have been broken up. He isn’t communicating with his peers,“ said Ms Boratto.
“Andrew doesn’t understand why we have support workers in our house, and what he is doing each day. We don’t want him going to the shopping centre every day and there are only so many times he can go to the library.“
Ms Boratto heard about the centre’s closure via a news bulletin.
“We had no idea, the workers had no idea, I was in shock.“
Equally shocked were Annecto employees like disability support worker Hayley Russell.
“Our disability day centre has been more than a workplace, it is a sanctuary of belonging, growth, and care,“ said Ms Russell.
“It essentially was their second home. For many years, staff have stood beside people with disabilities, helping them to build confidence, friendships, and purpose. But without warning, everything has collapsed around us.
“Staff have been left jobless, participants are now left without support which is having a detrimental effect on them and their families, and the heart of our community has been torn out. There was no plan, no transparency, and no dignity in how it ended. We have watched vulnerable people lose their safe inclusive space overnight.“
Both women are concerned that the centre, which was founded by parents in Melton as Merrimu in the 1970s and expanded to Maddingley in the 1980s, will be lost to the community.
“Our centre is on Crown land, it needs to be kept for the purpose it was built, and used for which was to provide a disability day service,“ said Ms Russell.
Ms Boratto has also pleaded with Melba to consider reopening the Bacchus Street day centre.
“With the closure of our centre the land and facilities now face the risk of being sold or permanently repurposed. This potential loss is devastating, not just for the disability community, but for local employees, carers, and the broader community. I’d hate to see it turned into housing – something that was fought hard for by so many people.“
A spokesperson for Melba said the organisation had no plans to reopen the day centre.
“We are offering everyone who used this site the opportunity to purchase Melba supports and services individually or in the community,“ the spokesperson said.
“At this stage of the process, our focus is on supporting people in ways that are flexible and responsive to their goals, which often means one-on-one or community-based support. We continue to explore longer term options to offer group support in the region and have been looking at this for some time now.
“There are a lot of service providers in the region, as well as Melba that are now supporting former Annecto NDIS participants.“
A Moorabool Shire Council spokesperson said the Bacchus Street site was not owned or managed by council.
“However, officers have contacted Melba Support Services — the provider noted by Annecto to continue service delivery — to explore any interest in using the facility. Council remains committed to supporting inclusive services and has recently appointed a Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee to help guide future planning. While Council is not a direct service provider, we are open to facilitating discussions with providers and stakeholders to ensure the community has access to the programs and services they need.“
The state government said the matter was a federal responsibility.
Federal Minister for Disability Mark Butler was contacted for comment.
Ms Russell said the fight for justice would continue.
“We urge the public, local leaders, and disability advocates to help us fight for justice, accountability, and the restoration of services that people desperately need in our local community,“ she said.
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