St Vincent’s Care Services offer Syrian refugees accommodation in Eltham aged care facility
SYRIAN refugees could soon call Eltham home if the Federal Government takes up an offer from St Vincent’s Care Services.
St Vincent’s Health Australia mission group leader Jack de Groot confirmed to the Diamond Valley Leader that refurbished one-bedroom units at its Diamond St facility, bought off Melbourne City Mission in July, would be offered to Syrian refugees, with women and children given priority.
Refugees of all faiths will be welcomed if the offer is taken up.
“With the Federal Government’s announcement of 12,000 additional refugees being welcomed to Australia — and with both the Victorian Government and Opposition publicly flagging their support for housing a significant number of this intake in Victoria — SVHA has decided to make the renovated apartments available to refugees should they be needed,” Mr de Groot said.
“If the Federal Government wishes to make use of the renovated accommodation at Eltham, then all the units will be made available once they are ready.
“At this stage, no agreements have been entered into and, as a result, there are no dates for any people to be moving into the units.”
Mr de Groot said the Eltham facility is the only site where SVHA is looking to accommodate Syrian refugees
St Vincent’s Care Services is the aged care arm of St Vincent’s Health Australia, the nation’s largest not-for-profit Catholic health and aged care provider.
Comment has been sought from the Department of Social Services and the Immigration Depatment.