By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
NEWBOROUGH aged care and retirement home, Latrobe Valley Village (LVV), cut the ribbon to officially open its workers’ living quarters recently.
Known as ‘Cedar Workstay’, a previously unused wing of the facility has been transformed to make way for needed foreign workers arriving into the area.
Seven apartments have been erected, replacing 14 former residence, while communal areas including a kitchen space, meeting spot, and outdoor gardens were also created.
Filipino employees Eddie and Joyce opened up their rooms during a tour of the revamped wing on February 6.
All seven workers tenants come from the Philippines, with Joyce feeling “very blessed” to be within the local community.
“The LVV board of members, all staff, they are supporting (us) all the way from the start until now. We have a very good job,” Joyce told the Express.
“It’s amazing, it’s like a hotel (with) all the furniture out there and then it’s very convenient to walk to our work.”
The group has been settled in the area for a while, and were excited to finally move into their new homes.
“I’m very honoured to be living in the Latrobe Valley, because all the residents, the staff, the crew (are all) very friendly and accommodating when we started,” Joyce added.
The project came about due to the Regional Worker Accommodation Fund, in partnership with Regional Development Victoria.
Having frequented the not-for-profit organisation multiple times over the course of Cedar Workstay’s construction, Member for Eastern Victoria, Harriet Shing arrived on opening day, representing Regional Development Minister Jaclyn Symes.
“The work that Regional Development Victoria has done alongside the people here at Latrobe Valley Village has been second to none,” Ms Shing said.
“This is also about making sure we have the workforce in place that can continue with that world-class work that again has people at its very heart.
“To bring seven standalone units into operation means that we’ve got workers who can continue to provide that care, to provide support to the nursing and carer workforce that’s already here, and therefore to provide that really wonderful care to residents.”
Latrobe Valley Village Chief Executive Alison Skeldon was pleased to announce that the workers’ living quarters were at capacity with an extensive wait list for further workers.
It was also revealed that the project was delivered on time and on budget.
“It will make a huge difference to the key workers who keep our organisation running (as well as helping) community services and health services in Gippsland,” Ms Skeldon said.
“This accommodation will allow us to attract and retain key workers’ strength and local employment, and contribute to the ongoing growth of our region.”
Ms Skeldon spoke of the significant impact that this accommodation will have on staff stability and allowing residents to get continuous support from a caring team.
She also acknowledged the aged care workers crisis that has affected them and others in the industry, being forced to explore alternate options.
“The same way as others have intentionally recruited locally (and) nationally for staff, and not been able to fill roles, we’ve done exactly the same thing, and in our case, we have brought people in from overseas who want to come and settle here,” Ms Skeldon said.
A 10-year Victorian Health Workforce Strategy was announced by the state government in 2024 to combat these gaps in the care economy, along with the Care and Support Economy Taskforce at a federal level.
Other Gippsland beneficiaries of the Regional Worker Accommodation Fund include: Omeo District Health, Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, and Bass Coast Health, Wonthaggi.
