Expanding community care in New Zealand

3 September 2018

The 12-room St John of God Clouston Park Community Home opened recently offering more opportunity for people with disabilities to access the support they need to live independently.

St John of God Hauora Trust Regional Manager (Northern) Stewart Clark said the new home would go a long way to meeting the needs of the community.

“Our vision is that this home will allow residents maximum independence and opportunity to participate in life activities that many so often take for granted,” he said.

“We aim to provide high quality client care and support assisting people to meet the goals they wish to achieve."

Resident David said he was excited to be one of the first to move into the home.

“I’m looking forward to the opportunity of being more independent - doing my own cooking and laundry, getting into town by myself,” he said.

More than 50 guests attended the opening of the house and witnessed St John of God Hauora Trust Board Chair Bevan Killick cut the ribbon to officially commemorate the opening while Monsignor Gerard Burns blessed the home.

Bevan said the new home demonstrated the organisation’s Mission to continue the healing mission of Jesus Christ.

“It is wonderful to see the influence that our patron Saint - St John of God - continues to have from half way around the world, some 500 years after he began his ministry,” he said.