- $950,000 Lotterywest grant presented to Rocky Bay to support upgrades to Lady Lawley Cottage in Cottesloe
- Facility provides specialist services, respite care and play-based activities for young people with disabilities and their families
- Cottage reopened in 2023 after Rocky Bay secured a 20-year lease from previous operator Australian Red Cross
Disability Services Minister Don Punch has today presented Rocky Bay with a $950,000 Lotterywest grant to support the refurbishment of Lady Lawley Cottage and expansion of its specialist services for Western Australian children living with disability or long-term illness.
The funding boost, announced on the International Day of People with Disability, will contribute to the fit-out costs of the newly upgraded, accessible therapy spaces including the sensory room, community gardens, outdoor activity spaces and a rehabilitation gym.
The grant will also go towards the refurbishment of the dedicated respite facilities and will introduce greater flexibility into the range of respite opportunities available.
Once works are complete, the site will be able to deliver respite nights for individuals, group-style respite for skills or social 'camp' style services, as well as family style respite.
For more than a century, Lady Lawley Cottage has been a significant player in children's respite and specialist services.
After its closure in 2020, the local community and disability sector advocated for its re-opening. Rocky Bay took over management through an open tender process in early 2023, after securing a 20-year lease from the previous operator, Australian Red Cross.
The service currently supports more than 230 children and their families.
Rocky Bay has operated since 1938, providing community and health services for people with disabilities in Western Australia from their 11 hubs across the Perth, Peel and Midwest regions.
As stated by Disability Services Minister Don Punch:
"I'm thrilled to announce this support for the exceptional work that Rocky Bay does for young people with disability and their families on the International Day of People with Disability.
"Thanks to Lotterywest, nearly $1 million will go towards providing best practice services such as respite, therapy, skills development and social programs, making Lady Lawley Cottage a place where children and young people are supported to grow and develop.
"This funding adds another chapter to the over a century of care provided to young people with disability and their families at Lady Lawley Cottage.
"I would also like to acknowledge the considerable support of the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation and the Channel 7 Telethon Trust for this important project."
As stated by Rocky Bay Chief Executive Officer Michael Tait:
"Coinciding with International Day of People with a Disability, today is a celebration of what is possible for children and youth living with a disability in WA.
"The refurbishment will support improved wrap-around supports for children, youth and their families across respite, therapy and community activities.
"In addition, the refurbishment also includes informal spaces to stay and play, connect and socialise, making the site an inclusive and welcoming community for families."
