Barossa Village’s Heritage Park Precinct – Innovations in Care and Community Integration

Ashton Hurn, Schubert MP, Barossa Village CEO Ben Hall, and Board Chairperson Helen O’Brien met to discuss the Barossa Village’s progress in the planning of the Nuriootpa, Heritage Park Precinct as the community-owned aged care service provider ambitiously works toward making a submission to the Australian Government’s Regional Precinct Partnership Program early 2024.

With a focus on principles of Ageing in Place, Support at Home, and Consumer Directed Care, the Barossa Village is working toward the lofty objective of providing world-class care for older individuals. The Heritage Park Precinct is being planned as a vibrant hub that caters to its residents’ needs and is pivotal in connecting and enriching the broader local community.

At the heart of Heritage Park’s planning is the commitment to crafting a physical environment that transcends traditional notions of care. The vision formed through engagement with the local community in 2022 emphasises the need for flexible and engaging built forms and open spaces, enabling and encouraging choice and the seamless provision of support and care. It goes beyond creating an environment solely for ageing in place, incorporating a comprehensive approach that supports and enables more good days, living your best life.

The Heritage Park Precinct aspires to create a vibrant, inclusive, and integrated community. The vision principles guide the precinct toward being a community hub where various activities can occur; collaborations and partnerships result in an ecosystem of services, and inter-generational outcomes result.

Desired outcomes from Heritage Park Precinct:

1. Community Integration: Crafted to seamlessly integrate with and contribute to the local community. By providing accessible and affordable housing options for older members of our community, the precinct contributes toward addressing rural housing shortages.
2. Inter-Generational Synergy: Fostering dynamic connections among people of all ages, the precinct actively promotes inter-generational exchange and learning, creating environments where diverse age groups can connect and share knowledge.
3. Innovative Retirement Housing: Establishing a new standard for retirement housing, the precinct adheres to the principles of Ageing in Place, Support at Home, and Consumer Directed Care, incorporating cutting-edge architectural accessibility innovations.

4. Rural Heritage Reflection: Embracing its rural backdrop, the Heritage Park Precinct authentically mirrors the Barossa heritage and character, offering residents a distinctive and genuine living experience.
5. Purposeful Living Focus: The precinct concentrates on purposeful living and healthy ageing, empowering older individuals to lead fulfilling lives by providing a supportive and engaging environment.
6. Strengths-Based Care Commitment: The Heritage Park Precinct is dedicated to a strengths-based care approach, accentuating the capabilities of older individuals rather than dwelling on limitations, ensuring a positive and empowering atmosphere.
7. Collaborative Ecosystem: Thriving on collaboration and partnerships, the precinct forms a cohesive ecosystem involving businesses, community organisations, education providers, care services, consumers, and government, ensuring holistic and sustainable community development.

As the vision for Heritage Park transitions from concept to reality, the project actively seeks collaboration and funding to initiate development. Serving as a forward-thinking model, the Heritage Park Precinct aims to provide exceptional care for older individuals while contributing to the broader wellbeing of the community, promising to establish a new benchmark for innovative and compassionate care models.