Sunshine Coast disability service Lavender Co adds new property in Yandina

A Sunshine Coast couple has expanded their unique disability company with the addition of a luxurious 15ha hinterland property for long term stays.

Sunshine Coast couple Michael and Simone Burke. Picture: Cory Rossiter.

A Sunshine Coast couple has added a luxurious property to its unique disability support service.

Lavender Co is a disability support company with more than 40 staff, offering services such as tailored care, day support, short term stay, and supported independent living at seven luxury homes across the region.

Michael and Simone Burke founded the service in 2018 which has properties in Mountain Creek, Buderim and Nambour.

Associate director Mrs Burke said they recently added a 15-acre property with two dwellings in Yandina to their portfolio as demand rose for its beautiful homes and services.

“It has grown exponentially, but it has been word of mouth,” she said.

One of Lavender Co properties. Picture: Cory Rossiter.

The couple – passionate about approaching the sector differently – was already looking to add more homes to its new location in the rural town, pending the green light from the Sunshine Coast Council.

Mrs Burke said their company’s vision and point of difference was its luxury-style homes with chef-cooked meals, saying they deliberately furnished the homes with soft tones and calming aesthetics to relax their guests given some can be easily overstimulated.

“They feel at home,” she said.

While the beauty of their homes was a major draw card, Mrs Burke said her guests were also pulled in by her high-quality and long-serving staff, especially as the disability industry was renowned for having high turnover.

Picture: One of Lavender Co properties. Picture: Cory Rossiter.

Given staff in the industry can suffer from carers fatigue, she invested “heavily” into her team’s wellbeing, education and skills to retain them.

Before the couple became a success story in this space, Mrs Burke said they started with one apartment in 2018 with her husband, who has a postgraduate degree in inclusive education, leading the charge.

Michael Burke, the director, is well-involved in the day-to-day operations, from support work and training staff to finding new, suitable properties.

As the couple went from strength to strength, Mrs Burke said they hoped to become a leader in the disability support industry across the Coast and southeast Queensland.