Talks have been held in the past year about the possibility of co-locating a purpose-built childcare centre in the grounds of Boneham Aged Care Services in Millicent.
Wattle Range Council has operated the Gladys Smith Early Learning Centre in Millicent for around 45 years while the first aged accommodation units funded by the estate of Ebenezer Boneham were built in 1967.
Boneham Aged Care Services is now the largest landowner in the Millicent CBD with extensive parcels of vacant land facing Short Street and Williams Road.
The council anticipates ongoing demand for childcare will be high but the Gladys Smith Early Learning Centre is land-locked and has difficulty in attracting qualified staff.
In his report to the September monthly meeting, Wattle Range Council chief executive Ben Gower said both matters could be addressed if the aged care and childcare facilities were co-located.
“Wattle Range Council staff have already had high level conceptual discussions with a local aged care provider who has expressed a similar interest in exploring the development of a joint aged care/childcare facility, “wrote Mr Gower.
“While the concept is still in its infancy, innovative ideas like these have to start somewhere and they ultimately morph and improve with time if given the right encouragement and support.
“Wattle Range Council has an appetite to pursue this type of concept, the first step would be to update the next iteration of its strategic plan to reflect this intent, and then assign appropriate resources to pursue it – understanding that it would undoubtedly take years if not decades to come to fruition.”
His lengthy report was tabled at the meeting and attracted a small number of responses from elected members.
Mayor Des Noll said the provision of childcare was the next biggest project for Wattle Range Council.
Councillor David Walshaw said a formal arrangement existed at Myrtle Bank in suburban Adelaide whereby the local kindergarten visited the War Veterans Home on a weekly business.
He is a Boneham Aged Care Services board member and a former operations manager of RSL Care.
Mr Gower also screened a 2.5-minute video about the 2019 ABC television program called “Old People’s Homes for 4-year-olds” which highlighted the positive interaction between old and young.
“I am married to an early childhood educator,” he said.
“Sally would work there in a heart beat and it would solve our [recruiting] problems.”
Boneham Aged Care Services chief executive Michael Filsell said the talks with Wattle Range Council were at a preliminary stage and his not-for-profit organisation was happy to listen.
Mr Filsell said he was aware the Gladys Smith Early Learning Centre had ageing infrastructure and constraints on expansion.
He said the intergenerational visits from school and kindergarten groups were invaluable and were returning after being affected by COVID and its subsequent restrictions.
“At this stage, Boneham is focussing on our residential care and sustainability,” Mr Filsell said.
“Intergenerational care is not currently a part of our strategic direction plan and it may be something which the Boneham Board would like to consider.
“The current strategic direction plan began in 2021 and is due for renewal next year.
“We also have to consider the changes around aged care which were passed last week by the Federal Parliament.”
When asked about the future use of the vacant land, Mr Filsell said there were a number of possibilities.
Mr Filsell said the community had the opportunity to comment when Boneham Aged Care Services held a public annual general meeting in November.
