A former Hunter warehouse has been transformed into a new centre to support people with disabilities through just under $8 million in funding.
The Cerebral Palsy Alliance opened its new facility in Beresfield on Thursday, June 11. The site is designed to provide support for people living with cerebral palsy and similar conditions.
The centre was funded through $3.38 million from the state government and $4.38 million from the Cerebral Palsy Alliance. It features multidisciplinary therapy rooms, spaces for group programs and an early diagnosis clinic.
It also includes a training space which can support more than 300 workers from the region's disability sector.
The space was intended to increase access therapy, early intervention, and supported independent living and community programs to reduce the need for regional clients to travel long distances for services.
Hunter mum Kylie Facer said early intervention after her daughter Anika's birth was life changing, and she said another a regional centre was going to have a profound effect on children and their families.
"Early intervention changed the course of my daughter's life, and I've seen firsthand how having local access to specialist care and support can give children the best possible start," she said.
The region's only other centre is at Croudace Bay.
Cerebral Palsy Alliance CEO Rob White said the new centre marked a major step forward for disability services in the region.
"This development strengthens support for families, improves access to services, and reflects our ongoing investment in innovative therapy and community support for the future," he said.
The alliance had been supporting people with a disability in the state for 80 years and had a presence in the Hunter for more than four decades.
Disability Inclusion Minister Kate Washington said she was grateful to the disability organisation for expanding its services in the Hunter.
"This state-of-the-art facility means they can keep doing what they do best, providing quality therapies to Hunter babies, children and adults with disability," she said.
Minister for the Hunter Yasmin Catley and Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said the centre meant the organisation could reach more people in regional towns.
Member for Wallsend Sonia Hornery, member for Maitland Jenny Aitchison and member for Cessnock Clayton Barr also celebrated the new centre.
"Families will be able to access high-quality therapies, early diagnosis services and tailored support closer to home, in a modern facility designed around their needs," Ms Aitchison said.
