Barunga Village has officially opened a new Community office in Balaklava, creating a welcoming local space for clients, families and staff to connect, have conversations and receive personalised support.
The office was officially opened on Thursday 5 February 2026 by Barunga Village Board of Directors Chairperson, Kerrin March, and Chief Executive Officer, Elizabeth Carroll, marking a significant milestone in the organisation’s ongoing commitment to regional care.
Barunga Village’s Director of Community Services, Jemima Rogers, said the Balaklava office will operate initially as a pop-up location and has been established to enhance face-to-face support, improve accessibility and provide a local base for staff and clinical teams. The initiative is focused on quality and connection, not service expansion.
“This office is about being closer to the people we support and making sure they can access care, information and conversations in person,” Jemima said.
“We currently provide services to around 75 clients across the region. Having a local presence in Balaklava allows us to better support those clients and their families, strengthen communication and ensure care is delivered consistently.”
Balaklava was selected as a central and familiar location for many existing clients, reducing the need for travel and enabling more regular, meaningful face-to-face interactions.
The Community office will:
- Support existing clients through improved access to in-person conversations and care planning
- Provide a local point of contact for families and community stakeholders
- Strengthen coordination between Support Workers and clinical services
- Offer a local base to support, connect and sustain the workforce
Barunga Village emphasised that its current priority is delivering high-quality care to existing clients rather than expanding services.
“Our focus right now is quality, consistency and sustainability,” Jemima said. “Growth only makes sense if quality keeps pace, and our priority is to do what we do well and do it locally.”
Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Carroll said the new office reinforces Barunga Village’s commitment to regional communities and ensuring people have access to local support and care.
“This office is an important step in strengthening our local presence and supporting our clients where they live,” Elizabeth said. “We are focused on delivering consistent, high-quality care and supporting our workforce to do that sustainably.”
Workforce sustainability is a critical issue in regional aged care. Barunga Village currently employs five Support Workers in the region and is actively working to attract, support and retain a skilled workforce, including Registered Nurses in Clinical Care Partner roles who provide clinical oversight and complex care support within Balaklava and surrounding areas.
Having a local base supports the workforce by reducing travel, strengthening team connection and ensuring staff have access to local professional support to deliver high-quality care.
The Balaklava Community office also benefits the broader community by supporting older people to remain living independently at home and reinforcing collaboration with local health professionals and service providers.
“This office reflects our commitment to working alongside other providers and community partners to support older people to age well in the region,” Jemima said.
Future decisions about the Balaklava office will be guided by client needs and service sustainability.