Social Impact Assessment for UOW Seniors Living Development
University of Wollongong
JSA prepared a comprehensive Social Impact Assessment in accordance with the DPHI Social Impact Assessment Guideline for the Health and Wellbeing Precinct at the University of Wollongong Innovation Campus, a State Significant Development.
The proposal included a co-located 180 bed Residential Aged Care Facility and 60 place Child Care Centre, Retirement Village with 248 independent living units and wellness centre, University research and education spaces, car parking and high amenity landscaped open spaces and recreation areas throughout the precinct.
The SIA found that the proposed development will bring new residents, workers, visitors and other users to the Innovation Campus. Positive social impacts are likely to be experienced at the local and regional levels, with very few potential adverse social impacts likely to be experienced within the Innovation Campus that are temporary and largely able to be mitigated.
The inclusion of a 180-bed residential aged care facility within the precinct was found to provide significant social benefit at the local and regional levels for many in the community, including some of the most vulnerable members, and over a long period of time. The current lack of residential aged care beds across the Illawarra Shoalhaven region has resulted in significant ‘bed block’ within Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District hospitals, with serious corresponding adverse impacts to patients and the wider health system.