Representatives from Griffith University were at Wellington's Maranatha House on Thursday to deliver a workshop on inter-generational care to members of the aged care facility.
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Work is currently being undertaken on the Australian-first project that will integrate Wellington's youngest and oldest residents.
Construction of the centre, which will be called Maranatha Gunyah Inter-generational Learning Centre, is expected to be completed by mid-October 2020.
During the workshop Professor Anneke Fitzgerald and Dr Katrina Radford explained how they will use Maranatha Gunyah as a research centre into inter-generational care.
Professor Fitzgerald and Dr Radford are a part of the The Intergenerational Care Project that have investigated two models of care; co-location model and visitation model and also shared those results.
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Professor Fitzgerald said the idea of the Wellington centre was something that needs to be sustained and normalised throughout Australia.
"I can't tell you how impressed I am with Maranatha House, where clearly it's all about the residents. It's unbelievably a nice and welcoming place... and having this extension of care is a credit to the people running it and the community," she said.
I can't tell you how impressed I am with Maranatha House, where clearly it's all about the residents.
- Professor Anneke Fitzgerald
"It's amazing for us to see this and really encouraging."
Dr Radford said they were incredibly privileged to be able to work with members of Marantha House.
"The joy and commitment really shines here," she said.
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Builder Matt Redfern from Matt Redfern Constructions, is undertaking the construction project and has also secured local sub contractors.
Dubbo architect Kirk Gleeson from Barson, has designed the childcare centre.
Maranatha Vice Chairman Terry Frost said since starting the project there have been a lot of enquiries, with the first enrolments just recently accepted.
Construction on the centre began in September 2019 and Mr Frost said it was coming along "famously."
"It's great to see everything growing day by day," he said.
"We're very pleased with construction but also very pleased that it's gone locally, with 95 per cent of the work being done by local tradesmen."
