The Novita Gawler Hub is set to celebrate its 1st birthday next month, but received an early surprise as Minister for Human Services Nat Cook MP and Member for Light Tony Piccolo MP visited on Friday.
Novita is one of South Australia’s largest community-based disability service organisations supporting kids, young people and adults living with disability.
Built in August 2023, the Gawler Day Options facility serves as a base for 21 adult clients and 23 support workers as they work together to meet their personal and NDIS goals.
A range of activities take place everyday to maintain or learn new life skills, engage with the community and build peer relationship within a social setting.
The facility is completely accessible, and purpose built for people of all abilities and care needs.
Minister Cook and Mr Piccolo received a guided tour through the facility from Novita CEO Greg Ward, including a chance to interact with the Tovertafel - a fun and interactive gaming system designed for those living with a disability to stimulate physical and social activities and create a shared experience for clients.
The Gawler hub is one of Novita's first sites to be fitted with a Tovertafel, and Mr Piccolo is pleased to have these inclusive resources and facilities available in the region.
“It’s hard for those with disabilities and their carers to access services as they aren’t always as readily available the further away you get from Adelaide,” said Mr Piccolo.
“We’re fortunate to have this spectacular centre here in Gawler, meaning less travel for those families, but also a chance to connect and socialise with those in our community and build connections.”
Minister Cook said seeing hubs like this that Novita have built set the benchmark demonstration of the benefit of the NDIS.
“They use innovation, evidence and the community at its heart to bring together a space where people are getting so much out of that contact and that engagement, and it’s a real place of goodness,” said Minister Cook.