St Vincent’s Health Australia (SVHA) will offer refurbished one-bedroom units at its Eltham aged-care facility to Syrian refugees, with women and children given priority.
The offer followed the Federal Government’s announcement it would spend more than $900 million to resettle 12,000 refugees fleeing Syria and Iraq
CatholicCare, who has partnered with SVHA on the project, stated in its winter newsletter the ‘Eltham Syrian refugee project’ would see 60 units available for short to medium-term rentals.
SVHA mission group leader Jack de Groot confirmed the plan and said the units would be leased to refugees for up to three years before being made available as affordable housing. Mr de Groot said he did not know when the refugees would arrive, but vulnerable women and children would be given priority.

While the ‘Welcome to Eltham’ group has welcomed the arrival of the refugees there are others in the local community who have voiced concerns. They feel that the aged care facility should be made available for elderly people only. They are also concerned about the impact on the elderly residents in the facility and feel it is unfair that they have not been given a Say.

These innocent refugees are NOT taking already used apartments and are only looking for a better future for themselves and their loved ones .

The elderly people of Eltham residents are against the idea of allowing Syrian refugees into Eltham. With the help of this petition, the views of others can be expressed and put forward to the people of Eltham .