The redeveloped Guide Dogs Victoria campus in the eastern Melbourne suburb of Kew is officially opened, providing a world-class active training and education centre of excellence.
The redeveloped Guide Dogs Victoria campus in the eastern Melbourne suburb of Kew is officially opened, providing a world-class active training and education centre of excellence.
The redevelopment has turned the campus into a ‘sensory campus’, designed to seamlessly integrate people with vision loss, guide dogs and campus employees in a way that will stimulate and heighten the sensory experience. The project has delivered new guide dog training facilities, including an undercover Dog Training Plaza, for Guide Dogs Victoria’s Early Puppy Development Program.
The guide dogs centre of excellence
- an education centre including multipurpose education space, multisensory play space, male and female bathrooms and one accessible bathroom
- a café, including fit-out
- residential accommodation including nine bedrooms with ensuites, shared kitchen, shared lounge area and five sensory breakout spaces
- sensory garden including children’s garden and play area, new footpaths and integrated footpaths
- administration spaces including open plan office space, reception area with lobby, seven meeting rooms, kitchenette and utility space, boardroom, executive office, multipurpose room, male and female bathrooms and one accessible bathroom
- a sunken car park with upgrades to internal roads and driveway, parking for at least 62 cars and workshop/office/storage area
- upgraded water, electrical, communications and fire services at the site on Chandler Highway.
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Guide Dogs Victoria will be able to expand client services with the new enhanced surroundings and technology. The project supported 38 jobs during construction and created 45 ongoing roles.
The $33.6 million dollar project was funded by Guide Dogs Victoria ($26.1 million), supported by the Australian Government ($2.5 million) and Victorian Government ($5 million).
“The Kew Guide Dogs Campus redevelopment project is a result of the Australian and Victorian governments working together with Guide Dogs Victoria to provide a centre of excellence to help people access their services,” federal minister Catherine King explained.
“The delivery of the Kew Guide Dogs Campus redevelopment will support people living with disability as well as create ongoing jobs and economic growth in eastern Melbourne for years to come.”
“I’m pleased to see the many benefits of this vital redevelopment at the Kew Guide Dogs campus come to life,” NDIS minister Bill Shorten added. “This campus is not just a facility; it is a beacon of what is possible in Australia’s journey towards true inclusivity.”
“This includes the support of assistance animals such as those here at Guide Dogs Victoria. The animals trained here are more than just companions, they are a vital support and deserve to be recognised as such.”
“These projects highlight the importance of the Australian and Victorian governments working together with organisations like Guide Dogs Victoria to provide expanded assistance programs for people with disability.”
For all the info, head to Guide Dogs Victoria here.
