Hazelwood House to be revived as an Aged Care Facility

There is exciting news for the Churchill community, with Hazelwood House set to be revived once again as an aged care facility, bringing renewed hope for local families and older residents in the area, pending approval from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. The application has already been submitted and is currently awaiting a response.

The building was purchased by couple Dinesh and Pallavee last year, who saw the strong potential and community importance of restoring Hazelwood House to its original purpose. After acquiring the property, they reached out to Comficare to explore the opportunity of reopening the facility as a warm, family-focused aged care home for the local community.

A small group of community members recently met with representatives from Comficare to discuss the future vision for Hazelwood House. The response from those attending was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing their happiness and excitement at the possibility of aged care services returning to Churchill.

Comficare is led by TJ and Aklesh Pasuleti, a husband-and-wife team with two young boys. They currently operate successful aged care homes within Melbourne and are passionate about creating environments that feel homely, compassionate, and community-oriented.

When approached to inspect Hazelwood House, TJ and Aklesh immediately connected with the facility and its history within the local community. Although the building requires significant refurbishment and upgrades to meet current standards, they recognised the heart and potential the home still holds for the people of Churchill and surrounding areas. Dinesh and Pallavee will be undertaking and completing the renovations of the facility, after which Comficare will commission and operate the aged care home.

Importantly, Comficare is committed to working closely with the community throughout the process. Plans are underway to organise a community meeting where local residents can meet the team, ask questions, discuss aged care needs, and hear more about the vision for Hazelwood House.

Future plans may also include the development of independent living units, allowing local residents to transition from home care to supported living and eventually residential aged care all within their own community and close to loved ones.

With a childcare centre located nearby, there is also a vision to create intergenerational connections, where young children can regularly visit and spend meaningful time with residents.

Additional ideas being explored include raised garden beds for residents who enjoy gardening, helping provide both enjoyment and fresh produce for the home.

Once renovations and refurbishments are complete, Comficare hopes to employ local staff and support workers, creating employment opportunities within the region. The home will focus on providing fresh, home-style meals prepared with care, rather than frozen or outsourced food services.

An official opening day is planned for the future, which will include tours of the facility, refreshments, activities for children, and an opportunity for the broader community to celebrate the reopening together.

The overall aim is to create a genuine family-based organisation with a welcoming and homely atmosphere where residents feel valued, respected, and connected.

In addition to residential aged care, Comficare also provides home care services to support older Australians to remain independent within their own homes.