Boutique respite facility opens doors in Moffat Beach

A new facility that gives the elderly and people with a disability access to boutique respite services has officially opened on the Sunshine Coast.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS: Candice Dover and Andrew Wallace MP open the new facility. Photo: Contributed

A NEW facility that gives the elderly and people with a disability access to boutique respite services has officially opened its doors on the Sunshine Coast.

Candice’s House, a dedicated home of community services, started operating out of its Moffat Beach location yesterday.

It’s the sister organisation to Candice Care, a national not-for-profit aged care and disability support service provider that was founded in Caloundra two years ago.

It is the fourth Candice’s House to open in Australia, and prides itself on delivering personalised services with respect and integrity.

Andrew Wallace MP and 50 others were welcomed by the Candice’s House team to join the festivities and take an extensive tour of the newly renovated space.

Founder Candice Dover said she was “so proud” of the facility.

“Our community now has access to a sensory room and rehabilitation space, a small gym, a computer hub for public use and hire, as well as a huge space available for activities such as yoga, art classes and creative learning,” she said.

“Best of all, we have two adorable in-training therapy pups to help lift spirits and add another element of fun and excitement to the house.”

Ms Dover has been working in the industry for more than 15 years and it was throughout this time she recognised there was a need for services to be offered a little differently.

It was, however, after her younger brother was involved in a coward punch attack that she realised just how little support was available to those in need.

“My brother Thom spent an extended period of time in the brain injury ward recovering from his injuries and, whether it was long or short-term support that fellow patients needed, they struggled to find it and access it,” she said.

Candice Care was then born, allowing Ms Dover and her team to offer tailored support aimed at enhancing people’s lives, regardless of their level of need or their requirements.

At this stage, Sunshine Coast’s Candice’s House isn’t available for overnight or long-term respite, but plans are under way to achieve this in the near future.

“We have strategically been positioning Candice’s Houses in communities where this kind of support is not as readily available,” Ms Dover said.

“Our future plans include opening additional houses in regional Australia, so more communities have access to this kind of facility.

“We will do this while continuing to deliver in-house service via Candice Care to those in need and making sure our impact has a positive influence on the lives of the people we support.”

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