Arcare Parkwood Opens its Doors and the History Books as QLD’s First-Ever LGBTI Aged Care Residence

A crowd of over 650 people came to discover Queensland’s first-ever LGBTI aged care residence by Arcare. The open day featured live music from Diddly Squat Band and gelato and coffee vans from local businesses. Visitors also enjoyed professional physio massages, culinary talks and guided tours around the newly built residence.

For the official opening ceremony, Arcare invited special guests such as local Bonney member Sam O’Connor, Queensland AIDS Council’s CEO Rebecca Reynolds and President Peter Black and the LGBTI Advisory Committee to celebrate this milestone for the diverse communities.

The Yugambeh Aboriginal Dancers also performed a traditional Welcome to Country ceremony and official Smoking ceremony to bless the land and the building.

Arcare CEO Colin Singh said, “We’re extremely proud to be opening our first LGBTI residence and the first in Queensland.

“We have been working with Queensland AIDS Council, (QuAC), on our recruitment and team training so that Arcare Parkwood can meet the needs of Queensland’s diverse LGBTI communities. Team members will be trained according to The National LGBTI Health Alliance’s Silver Rainbow aged care training package, delivered by QuAC and we have formed an advisory group with QuAC and members of the LGBTI communities. QuAC has also provided advice into Parkwood’s interview processes to ensure they are LGBTI-inclusive.

“We have also updated our application forms to adhere to and reflect various genders and sexualities and we are also working towards getting our rainbow tick accreditation, which we will make significant progress on next year,” Colin said.

“The Queensland AIDS Council is proud to be supporting Arcare with this project and we welcome the commitment by Arcare to ongoing planning and learning and development opportunities for its staff and residents in relation to our communities,” QuAC CEO Rebecca Reynolds said.

“We have seen the impact that the Silver Rainbow Aged Care Training we deliver has had in the aged care sector, and we are excited to support Arcare to continue to apply that knowledge to its work and evaluate its impact. The actions Arcare is taking now will ensure that its LGBTI Brotherboy and Sistergirl residents are able to continue to live their lives proudly and celebrate who they are as they move into aged care. Importantly, with the choice for the first time in QLD for that to be in an LGBTI residence, QuAC is immensely proud of being a partner in that journey to date.”

Arcare Parkwood’s Enrolled Nurse, Emma Donaldson, who’s a member of the LGBTI community herself and says that she’s excited to be a part of the team implementing necessary change to see the elderly LGBTI community supported in ways they have not been before.

“I’m excited to work in an environment where we can share so much of our personal lives together and openly speak about our personal experiences. This topic is often a taboo among this generation and they are not a 100% accepting or, if they are part of the LGBTI community, they are very private about it,” Emma said.

“I hope to achieve a community where the residents feel comfortable about themselves, they don’t have to hide anymore, they can be around people who are accepting and know they are part of a safe community.”

Arcare Parkwood offers a mix of permanent and dementia care, using Arcare’s award-winning Dedicated Assignment model which places relationships between the residents, their family and team members above all else – offering a level of support not seen in aged care elsewhere in the area. 

Sitting on an approximately 1.29 ha site, Arcare Parkwood will provide 90 suites and house a hair salon, community room, private dining, wellbeing centre, theatre/workshop, two courtyards, activity rooms, outdoor entertaining areas, and dementia support rooms. The staff at Arcare Parkwood are also currently planning a range of activities to support LGBTI specific social and community engagement and connection opportunities within the residence.

Find out more about Arcare.