By Holly McGuinness
Supported residential service Sydenham Grace will be closed after its registration was revoked by the Human Services Regulator.
Administrators Ernst and Young were appointed to the facility in January following a state government investigation.
Ernst and Young were also appointed to Melton South facility Gracemanor, which had its registration revoked in June.
Gracemanor and Sydenham Grace were run by Grace Disability Services prior to the appointment of administrators.
The state government investigation found that Grace Disability Services was not meeting the stringent regulations in place to protect the interests, health and wellbeing of 34 residents at the facilities.
In a statement this week, the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing said Sydenham Grace residents would be supported to find alternative care facilities.
Human Services Regulator director Anthony Kolmus said he took action to protect the health and wellbeing of residents at Sydenham Grace.
He said the decision to revoke Sydenham Grace’s registration followed an extensive investigation that uncovered 23 serious contraventions of the Supported Residential Services (Private Proprietors) Act 2010.
“This is the culmination of an extensive investigation by my team to protect the welfare of residents,” Mr Kolmus said.
While nearby residents, including Mick Sciretta, have welcomed the closure of Sydenham Grace, they fear the premises will be taken over by a another supported residential service.
Residents have reported Sydenham Grace residents roaming the streets on hot days and alleged illegal activity in the streets, while police and ambulances were regularly called to the site.
“I’m feeling terrible about it because this place in the past five years or so, it’s just been a living nightmare to live here,” Mr Sciretta said.
Another resident, who asked not to be named, said residents weren’t convinced the closure of Sydenham Grace would be the end of their worries.
“[The closure] is a positive… we’re going to wait and see what the final outcome is.”
