A RIVERLAND-wide disability service provider has extended its helping hand to Waikerie and surrounding districts with the opening of a new temporary live-in house – and is expected to create 15 to 20 new jobs in the area.
Lifestyle Assistance and Accommodation Services (LAAS) was established in Loxton in 1986 to provide high-quality disability support of accommodation and day options services to disabled people of all ages.
An official opening day was held at the new LAAS house in Waikerie on Thursday, October 22, with over 40 guests attending across the afternoon to tour the house and meet the staff and support workers.
LAAS general manager Jeremy Mills said the new house opening was expected to create 15 to 20 local jobs.
“This house has been established as a short-term live-in facility for our clients old and new, and we’re very excited to have set up a location for the lower Mallee,” he said.
“It’s a state-of-the-art facility with big, airy rooms, five bedrooms, a shared kitchen ensuite and living space, and a spacious backyard, up-to-date with all modern equipment.
“This new house will create local jobs for support workers who will provide in-home support to our clients, and we are looking for those workers now.”
LAAS was established in 1986 by four sets of parents who were concerned about the absence of services across the Riverland after their children left the Riverland Special School.
Not wanting to move to Adelaide for the services needed, the parents lobbied for over two years for funding to create LAAS, which is now based in Loxton with services available across the Riverland.
One of the co-founding parents, John Woodberry, gave a presentation on LAAS’s history during the Waikerie house open day, and said he is “very pleased” to have watched LAAS grow over the years.
The open day was held from 1pm to 3pm, and staff gave walk-through tours of the house to over 40 guests who attended across the afternoon. A presentation was held later in the day to officially open the house.
The service is now looking for support workers to provide high-quality disability support services. For more information and to apply, visit the LAAS Facebook page or www.laas.com.au/careers/