Western Australia Premier Colin Barnett

Rehabilitation Facility to Get Purpose-Built Accommodation with $4.2 Million Grant

Victor P Taffa

A rehabilitation facility for people with an acquired brain injury has received a $4.2 Million Lotterywest grant to help redevelop and fit out its ageing building.

The redevelopment of the Brightwater Care Group’s Oats Street Rehabilitation Facility will be purpose-built, increase available beds from 27 to 43 and help support more people in the community.

Premier Colin Barnett said the Program at Brightwater’s Oats Street Rehabilitation Facility had pioneered new ways of approaching rehabilitation in Australia.

“Oats Street Rehabilitation Facility has successfully rehabilitated 225 people who would otherwise have remained in high care health and medical services at great cost to them, their families, the health system and the community.” Mr. Barnett said.

“Participants undertake a 12-18 month process concentrating on cognitive recovery, managing major behavioural issues and re-learning life skills so that participants can return to the community.”

The current facility is a former State Government Hospital which, with modest renovations, was converted and opened in 1991.

In addition to Lotterywest funding, $3.5 Million has been allocated from the Department of Health.

“I am proud that the Liberal-National Government is investing in new infrastructure for such an important facility.” the Premier said.

More than 22,000 Western Australians live with an acquired brain injury as a result of accident; stroke; alcohol or drug abuse; or infection and disease, with at least 600 new cases occurring each year.

Building of the facility is set to begin in June 2011 and completed in 2014.