October 20th, 2024Elders independent living village, Wada Warr Borella, opens in Ballarat

Central Ballarat now has a new independent living community for First Nations elders.

The Elders Independent Living Village, Wada Warr Borella (meaning come to stay and rest) has opened in recent days in Porter Street in Ballarat’s CBD.  

The Wada Warr Borella living village is designed  to provide a culturally safe space for  elders aged 50 years and over to reside.

It offers room for 16 elders  to live on site in eight self-contained  one or two-bedroom units along with a central hall for shared meals,  managers’ quarters, medical treatment  rooms and a communal vegetable garden.    

The facility is a partnership project involving Ballarat and District  Aboriginal Cooperative (BADAC) and the state government,  along with input from First Nations elders.