A much needed upgrade of the Living Skills Unit and Swimming Pool at Villa Maria’s St Paul’s College is complete and an opening ceremony and blessing took place on Tuesday 10 November.

The $250,000 Living Skills area upgrade, funded by the Australian Government’s ‘Primary Schools’ of the 21st Century’ element of the ‘Building the Education Revolution’ program, will make a big difference for the students.

The now purpose-designed facility provides a physical environment that promotes independence, interaction, learning and wellbeing.

In addition, a $467,500 refurbishment of the warm water pool at St Paul’s College is also complete. Built more than 25 years ago, the pool was overdue for refurbishment. The major upgrade of the pool will benefit students well into the future.

Funding for the pool refurbishment came from Villa Maria, Trusts and Foundations and the Australian Government, through Catholic Capital Grants.

The Most Reverend Denis Hart, Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne and patron of Villa Maria, blessed the newly upgraded facilities in the presence of happy students, staff, families and guests including Catholic Capital Grants Director Stephen Elder, Boroondara Councillor David Bloom, The Jack Brockhoff Foundation Executive Officer Jan Robins, President of the Board of Directors of Villa Maria Dr Angela Atkin, Board directors Jenny McAllister and Peter Walsh and Villa Maria CEO Valerie Lyons.

“A lot of thought went into the whole design and having the funds and support to enable this to happen is just wonderful,” said a beaming Cheril Dewhirst, Principal of St Paul’s College, of the Living Skills area.

“The benches in the kitchen area can be raised or lowered as needed. There are mirrors on the ceiling for students who are tilted back a little in their chairs, so they can see what’s cooking on the stovetop. New electronic doors also make a big difference to students’ independence and mobility.”

Of the swimming pool, Ms Dewhirst said: “The foyer, change rooms and the pool area have been completely upgraded to provide modern facilities for our students.”

“While the repair of the pool was so important, what was really wonderful was the installation of overhead hoists.”

“Now a child can be hoisted from their wheelchair onto the changing table and then directly from there into the warm pool, instead of being transferred onto another chair which is then lowered into the pool.”

Villa Maria would like to sincerely thank the following for their generous support: The Australian Government, The Scobie & Claire Mackinnon Trust, The Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, The Jack Brockhoff Foundation, Blake Dawson Waldron, James F Roche Trust and Catholic Health Care.