Australian-first: James Brown Memorial Trust to co-locate school with aged care facility in SA

The Onkaparinga Council has approved the Not For Profit’s plans to open the Southern Montessori middle school campus next to its 88-bed Kalyra Woodcroft facility in Morphett Vale, 25km south of the Adelaide CBD. The $20 million redevelopment will see an existing building converted into a classroom and two new classrooms and a community hub built on the site with residents and students taking classes together including music, art, history and cooking. The school has a 20-year lease on the site after trying to find a new campus for about 10 years. Kalyra Communities CEO Sara Blunt says the partnership will give students a wonderful learning environment and allow residents to benefit from lifelong learning and new technology. Not all are happy however – over 100 people attended the council meeting, including residents from the nearby Elkanah retirement village, to oppose the development.