By Kath Gannaway
Good food, a smile, connection, gratitude, dance … are just a small sample of what Warburton residents have chalked up in response to the question, ‘What is health to me?’
The Wellspring project in Warburton is asking the question as they transform the old fire brigade station in the centre of town into a social enterprise health space.
The group of practitioners successfully bid for the space last year and have received financial backing from Yarra Ranges Council with capital grants funding, and from the Warburton/Yarra Junction Bendigo Community Bank.
Health practitioner Belinda Lloyd is behind the creation of Wellspring-Warburton as a not-for-profit wellness centre in response to the need for affordable working space for practitioners in areas such as counselling, psychology, yoga, mindfulness, qigong, birthing, and a range of other health modalities.
The model reflects the needs of the community, enabling a range of practitioners for whom setting up a full-time practice or studio is not viable to hire space for smaller amounts of time.
The project is managed by a committee of four people and the ultimate aim is that in addition to providing affordable programs, any profits will provide spots for people who need health assistance but can’t afford it.
The fire station that served the community so well for decades is, with the exception of its magnificent fire-station doors, is almost unrecognisable as work continues to transform a sparse, cold building into an aesthetically beautiful, multi-purpose health and well-being centre with a studio, consulting rooms and other functional spaces.
The blackboard project is about engaging the community and identifying needs.
“It’s an accessible way of engaging people who wouldn’t necessarily be drawn to this model of healthcare,” project member Paige Remfrey said.
“Part of what I will be doing is looking at the responses and trying to fulfil some of those needs.
“One thing that has come up is how difficult it is to access psychiatrists up here, so hopefully we can look at attracting a psychiatrist to come to the centre, and hopefully at a subsidised rate,” she said.
She said the anonymity of the process was important and encouraged people of all ages and interests to chalk up their thoughts on what health means to them.
A July opening is planned for the centre.
For more information visit Facebook, The-Wellspring-Warburton.
