Community pride in Goulburn Valley’s Rumbalara Elders Facility

Discover more about the Goulburn Valley’s Aboriginal community with this month’s Indigenous.gov.au community profile, showcasing the great work underway, Closing the Gap in the Goulburn Valley.

After 18 years of hard work, Yorta Yorta woman Lena Morris said the elders of the Shepparton region in Goulburn Valley, Victoria finally have the aged care facility they always wanted.

Lena is the Executive Manager of Aged Care and Disability Services at Rumbalara Aboriginal Cooperative, funded through the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing to deliver culturally appropriate aged care services to the local community.

Earlier this year, Lena proudly opened the doors to the Co-op’s Rumbalara Elders Facility, providing additional residential aged care services for Aboriginal elders in the Shepparton region.

“Part of my role is fulfilling that dream of the elders who have passed away, their dream to have something they could call their own that is still culturally appropriate and connects them to the community,” Lena said.

When the Co-op first started exploring the possibility of building an Indigenous aged care facility, Lena went out and spoke with the elders about what they wanted and needed. One of their main requests was that the construction and operation of the facility provide training and employment for their families.

“We started this project to have community involvement, ownership and pride in what they’ve built here for their grandparents and great grandparents,” Lena explained.

“And now that we’re operating, we have around 98 per cent Aboriginal staff.”

The building was specifically designed to allow the elders to remain connected to their community and culture.

“We’ve set up the facility so it has a café, not just a dining area for elders,” Lena said. “We all eat together. Family and friends and staff and elders who live in the facility share a meal together and interact, keeping that culture and connection to the community.”

Isie White, an Aboriginal elder originally from Tasmania, was the first resident at Rumbalara. Her daughter, Trudy West, said her mum loves the place.

“Where Mum was before it was depressing to go out there and see her. You walked out those doors and you felt guilty leaving her there. Whereas here, you have Lena, the other Indigenous staff; it’s just like a big happy family out here.”