The construction of an Australian-first inter-generational centre at Wellington is currently under way with the facility ready to welcome leading experts this week for a workshop.
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The $3 million Maranatha Gunyah Inter-generational Learning Centre will host representatives of Griffith University for a professional development workshop on Thursday.
Professor Anneke Fitzgerald and Dr Katrina Radford will present information and workshop sessions about the research into intergenerational care and how Maranatha will contribute to the ongoing learning.
The aim of the workshop is to show the best way towards building age-friendly communities through the development and implementation of an inter-generational learning program.
Once completed, Maranatha Gunyah will be the first purpose-built facility in Australia to introduce the program, with the centre being constructed alongside Maranatha House aged care.
Inter-generational committee member Terry Frost said the centre will offer the best of both worlds, with aged care sitting alongside child care in a shared site model.
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While this concept is new in Australia, it has already been operated successfully around the world - in the United States, Japan and parts of Scandinavia.
It was also highlighted as a pilot program on the ABC's 'Old People's Home for 4 Year Olds.'
"The television show has brought a lot of attention to this project and what we are aiming to achieve," Mr Frost said.
"It is a very exciting time for us to see this development taking shape, and to be able to welcome Prof Fitzgerald and Dr Radford to discuss their views on this ground-breaking construction."It is ground-breaking for Maranatha and it's ground-breaking for Wellington.
"It's a ground-breaking project on many levels."
Jointly funded by Maranatha and the Federal Government's Building Better Regions program, the 650m2 child care centre plan features 57 places and four rooms with additional play and sleeping space for 14 people.
It will also have the capacity to provide 24-hour care in the future.