Stella Life Care extending services to wider Whitsundays community

A community service provider in Bowen is being hailed as a source of connection and support for the Whitsundays region, with founders saying community is what matters most.

Stella Life Care founders Bruce Button, Faileen James and Sarah Holland.

A shining star in the Bowen community, Stella Life Care is celebrating its first year providing a range of community based services bringing positive change to the people in the Whitsundays.

Founded by Faileen James, Bruce Button and Sarah Holland in February 2022, Stella is a community service centre supporting people with disabilities and the elderly as well as those in need who do not necessarily qualify for NDIS funding.

Located in the heart of Bowen, Stella is focused on creating a community hub people can connect to and “feel part of”.

“It’s about getting to know people,” head of client experience and marketing Sarah Holland said.

“We have a person centred approach and truly work with individuals.”

Stella started as a disability and aged care support centre and with the recognition of the need for more inclusivity, has branched out to provide a range of events and services to support the wider community.

Founder Faileen James is a register lawyer and advocate with a background in nursing.

Ms James and her husband Bruce Button moved to Bowen two years ago before establishing the centre while working with Ms Holland remotely.

“We don’t see ourselves just as a disability or aged care service provider,” Ms James said.

“We see ourselves as a provider meeting the needs of community members.”

Tab and Faileen James at Stella Life Care in Bowen on January 6, 2023.

Stella Community is now registered as a not for profit, with a percentage of the money raised funnelled back in to the community.

“We have volunteers who just drop in to people, to be a friendly face, or to check on people’s pets while they’re away,” Ms Holland said.

“We don’t want it to be a corporate juggernaut.

“We have purposely moved away from that because it is really all about people helping people.”

Bowen resident Tab says Stella has changed her life.

“I have mental health issues and depression where I can’t get out of bed, I can’t get motivated,” she said.

“Faileen came around to my house when she didn’t have to and was very supportive.

“A lot of people come in here and they’re lonely and they have no family and they just want someone to talk to.

“I come here nearly every day. It’s very good for my mind.”

The centre runs regular art workshops and wellbeing courses, art based school holiday programs for children and community led events.

“We sell local artwork, plants, local honey and bits and pieces from the Stella community,” Ms Holland said.

“We had a big morning tea for Pink Ribbon Day and ran a raffle which raised $700 as well, but we make everything we do affordable.

Stella team at the Pink Ribbon Fundraising Morning Tea (from left to right) – Tammi Burgis, Cindy Entriken, Faileen James, Rosario Jauco, Arnna Kidman, Margaret Healey and Mark Connors.

On Christmas Day last year, Stella also held a free lunch for the community.

“If it wasn’t for Stella there would have been a lot of people who had a lonely miserable Christmas,” Tab said.

“Stella was the only company in Bowen open Christmas Day and they made such a big effort with food, prawns, soft drink and presents for people who were spending the day alone.

“It was a beautiful day, the people are beautiful.”

The centre now has volunteers who focus on helping older women in the community facing homelessness.

“The situation in this area is dire,” Ms Holland said.

“Sometimes older women in the community fall through the cracks and we look at ways to make sure they do annual health checks and are getting the help they need with things like housing.

“We are very passionate about this,” she said.

Stella Life Care in Bowen.

This year, new projects in the pipeline are to include card groups, dance classes, basic cost effective cooking classes and an increase in organised day trips.

Single mum Emily Morgan says Stella Life is able to adapt to her needs and is there when she needs support.

“It’s very helpful to have people who go out of their way, who are present and who listen to what I need, so it’s great,” Ms Morgan said.

“It’s the people we have support with, they’re really lovely.”

Stella has grown over the past year to now support people around the Whitsundays in areas including Collinsville, Proserpine and Airlie Beach and the centre is conscious of people in more remote areas, which often lack community services.

“All the business owners of Stella Life Care have a very strong sense of social justice given to us by our parents,” Ms James said.

“When we see disadvantage, we feel the need to do something about it.

“We recognise a need in Bowen to develop a community hub where people can engage with others, learn new skills and develop their self confidence.”

Stella Life Care’s official one year anniversary celebration will be held on February 3 from 10am at 39 Herbert Street. All are welcome.