A new respite centre for young people on the autism spectrum has been opened in Werribee.
On Thursday, Wyndham mayor Henry Barlow and Lalor MP Joanne Ryan opened The Lifestyle House in the Rosella Avenue building.
The home will support residents aged between 15 and 25, who live in the Wyndham, Melton and Brimbank council areas.
It has five beds, allowing five young people to stay overnight at any one time.
The Lifestyle House offers a range of activities for young people who visit, including school holiday recreational services, camps and social events.
Aspect’s community engagement and operations manager Ben James said the house also had three separate living spaces, which were “utilised as calm sensory spaces for people to feel at home in”.
He said the property featured a walking track, herb gardens, seating areas, a barbecue, a trampoline and a swing.
Mr James said The Lifestyle House had already been contacted by many families with children and young adults on the autism spectrum.
“We have been inundated with referrals for people requesting supports and access to the facility,” he said. Mr James said that while there were similar facilities in the west, The Lifestyle House was purpose-built for people on the autism spectrum.
The house is operated by Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services, Housing Choices Australia and Wyndham council.
Wyndham council donated the land for the respite centre.
Details: 1800 ASPECT (1800 277 328)
