Yutjuwala Djiwarr Flexible Aged Care

The connection to Country is felt from the moment you enter Yutjuwala Djiwarr (Little Heaven) Nhulunbuy flexible aged care facility.

Developed in consultation with the Yolngu community, Yutjuwala Djiwarr is the first culturally appropriate residential aged care facility and future dialysis unit in Nhulunbuy, East Arnhem Land. It supports senior Territorians to age where they have lived, worked and raised their families, helping residents to maintain their strong connections with Country.

The Yolngu vision for the facility is that it provides care and meaning for Yolngu Elders: a place of safety and wellness where Elders are valued for their contribution and wisdom; where they will experience peace and value in their final years; where they can share their knowledge with others and live a life of purpose and serenity. Connecting with family and young minds is equally as important in the balance of health and wellbeing.

The connection to Country commences at the entry gate, where stencils of local flora adorn pathways leading to the open, airy and sun-filled buildings, designed to bring the outdoors in. Maximising the involvement of local people and materials for a more ethical build, timber was sourced from the Gumatj Mill, where it was milled by local Yolngu men, and travelled less than 50km from its source.

Yutjuwala Djiwarr is a 33-bed facility, including a palliation family room. Each bedroom provides access to the outdoors with sheltered verandas, suitable for resting, and visiting family. The large outdoor areas offer an opportunity for reflection among locally sourced plants and shrubs, as well as places to conduct bush medicine healing sessions or just enjoy the outdoors.

The care that Yutjuwala Djiwarr brings to residents reflects the values of ARRCS.