A new disability centre in Beresfield has officially opened marking a major investment by the Minns Labor Government in improving the lives of people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities across the Hunter region.
Backed by a $3.38 million investment from the NSW Government’s Regional Development Trust, in addition to $4.38 million from the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, the project delivers a total investment of $7.76 million into modern accessible care services.
Under the project a former industrial warehouse has been transformed into a customised centre featuring multi-disciplinary therapy rooms, flexible spaces for group programs and an early diagnosis clinic.
The centre aims to meet growing demand for services in the region by providing access to evidence-based therapies, leading technologies and tailored programs for babies, children and adults with disability and support for their families.
The centre also includes a dedicated training space which will support more than 300 workers from the disability sector in the Hunter region.
The Cerebral Palsy Alliance has been supporting people with disability in NSW for 80 years and has been present in the Hunter for more than four decades with accommodation and services being delivered across the region.
More than $220 million from the NSW Government’s Regional Development Trust Fund is currently being delivered through programs and projects that provide strategic and sustainable investment where it is needed to support regional and rural industries, businesses and communities to grow.
For more information, go to: nsw.gov.au/regionaldevelopmenttrust
Minister for the Hunter, Yasmin Catley said:
“This is a major investment in the Hunter and, most importantly, in the lives of people with disability and the families who love and support them.
“For more than four decades, the Cerebral Palsy Alliance has stood alongside Hunter families, and this centre means they can reach more people, with better facilities.”
Minister for Disability Inclusion, Kate Washington said:
“I’m grateful to the Cerebral Palsy Alliance for expanding its services here in the Hunter. The NSW Government is proud to partner with this impressive organisation on this important, life-changing project.
“The Cerebral Palsy Alliance is a highly respected organisation that’s been innovating and improving lives for 80 years. This state-of-the-art facility means they can keep doing what they do best, providing quality therapies to Hunter babies, children and adults with disability.”
Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:
“This new disability centre in the Hunter is exactly the kind of investment our government is committed to—projects that improve essential services and strengthen regional communities.
“It will provide world-class care and support closer to home, ensuring people living with disability and their families in the Hunter have access to the services they need without having to travel further afield.
“By investing in this project, we’re not only improving infrastructure, we’re building stronger, more inclusive communities.”
Member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery said:
“I was pleased to be able to help secure this funding, with more local families and people with cerebral palsy now set to benefit from world-class support thanks to our investment and partnership with an exceptional organisation as Cerebral Palsy Alliance.”
Member for Maitland, Jenny Aitchison said:
“This new centre is a wonderful addition to Beresfield and will make a real difference for people with disability and their families across Maitland and the wider Hunter.
“Families will be able to access high-quality therapies, early diagnosis services and tailored support closer to home, in a modern facility designed around their needs.
“The Cerebral Palsy Alliance has supported our community for decades, and this new centre will help them continue that important work for generations to come.”
Member for Cessnock, Clayton Barr said:
“The Minns Labor Government is not only delivering high-quality disability services but also investing in the future of the local workforce too. This new facility delivers high-quality training space for Hunter disability workers – an additional benefit for our growing and increasingly specialised disability services workforce.”
Cerebral Palsy Alliance CEO, Rob White said:
“CPA has proudly supported the Hunter community for over 42 years, and this new centre in Beresfield marks an important step in expanding services across high-need areas of NSW.
“This development strengthens support for families, improves access to services, and reflects our ongoing investment in innovative therapy and community support for the future.”