Sommerville to invest $8m into construction of first high physical support homes in the NT

Homegrown community services provider Somerville is investing $8m in the construction of the Territory’s first new High Physical Support homes.

HOMEGROWN community services provider Somerville is investing $8m in the construction of the Territory’s first new High Physical Support homes.

Two homes in Driver and five in Katherine will be built over the next year, with 50 construction jobs and 65 new ongoing disability support positions coming from the projects. Troppo Architects have designed the new homes and M&J Builders won the construction contract.

Somerville chief executive Lawson Broad says not only will the new homes deliver the highest standards of disability accommodation in the Northern Territory, they will also free-up hospital and aged-care beds.

“Not only will these homes provide huge benefits for people with disability requiring additional physical supports for daily living but importantly, will also create new vacancies for people currently living in hospital or aged care which will relieve pressure on those high demand services,” Mr Broad said.

High physical support homes combine high design standards with assistive technology to provide a living environment for people with disability requiring the highest level of physical support.

Instead of floor lips or steps, a high physical support home has grab rails, low height paddle switches, wider doorways and hallways as well as larger bathrooms, bedrooms and living areas.

Supportive technology includes ceiling hoists for lifting and transporting people in and out of wheel chairs and from room-to-room, voice controlled lighting, climate control, automatic doors and electric or hydraulic kitchen benchtops.

Disability support workers will provide 24-hour care including cooking, personal care and community access.

Disabilities Minister Kate Worden turned the first sod on the project on Friday and residents are expected to occupy the new homes next Dry. Somerville plans to build five more homes in Alice Springs, three in Tennant Creek and two in Darwin.