Dundas Valley: Wesley Tebbutt aged care centre to close in July

A nursing home in Sydney’s northwest is due to close, uprooting scores of vulnerable residents and staff who have been told there is only a month before it shuts its gates.

The run-down Wesley Tebbutt aged care centre at Dundas Valley will close in July when 52 residents and 55 staff will have to find alternate homes and jobs.

Wesley Mission chief executive officer Reverend Stu Cameron said the 46-year-old centre’s building failed to meet the increasing needs of residents.

“While we have undertaken internal works in recent years to provide increased amenity to residents, it will require major works that we are not currently in a position to undertake,’’ Rev Cameron said.

“Providing amenities that support our residents' needs is an increasing challenge both internally and externally at this location.

“Even though we have done work recently to improve the residents' experience, we are not able to offer the appropriate care environment in the years to come, nor continue to meet the expectations of the government without major building works.’’

He said the centre’s closure would “significantly impact residents and staff”.

Wesley Tebbutt aged care centre will close next month. Picture: Google Maps

“We will continue to work together to ensure residents find a suitable new home,’’ he said.

There are no immediate plans for a development on the site but the nursing home’s closure will be reviewed as part of a masterplan to be considered for the 4.9 hectare site, which was bequeathed to Wesley Mission by the late Sir Frederick Stewart in honour of his wife Lottie, to support the community in the late 1940s.

The nursing home is built around the heritage-listed Stewart family home, St Cloud. In 1976, additions were made to the home to provide aged care.

Rev Cameron said the centre would close at the end of July.

“The actual closure date will be dependent on finding suitable new homes for all residents,’’ he said.

“Before then, we will be doing all we can to obtain alternate homes in Wesley Mission centres for as many of our residents as possible.

“Where another Wesley Mission location is not possible, we will ensure that there is a suitable home with another agency.”

He said workers would be supported to find a new role in several jobs with Wesley Mission.

Wesley runs several programs in buildings it owns on the Stewart St site including Wesley Mission's Family Preservation program, Wesley Vocational Institute, and Wesley Kickstart, a residential program to support young people leaving foster care to develop life skills and independence.

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