Abbeyfield Australia has welcomed a new Abbeyfield House to the Abbeyfield family.

The latest addition is in Goulburn, NSW and offers comfortable independent living for 10 younger Goulburn adults with intellectual disabilities.

NSW Minister for Disability Services Andrew Constance and Member for Goulburn Pru Goward celebrated the official opening of Goulburn Abbeyfield House on Wednesday 27 June 2012.

"This house is unique in its approach to supported accommodation because it focuses on independent living, rather than the traditional care model for residents," Mr Constance said.

"A home like this gives people with a disability the opportunity to be more independent and learn to be less reliant on their parents."

Member for Goulburn Pru Goward said the Abbeyfield House will give residents the opportunity to increase their social relationships and feel more part of the Goulburn community.

"Within the dynamic of a shared home and with the support of a live-in housekeeper, the house will accommodate people with a disability who need that little bit of extra help to live their lives as independently as possible," Ms Goward said.

Abbeyfield Australia reiterates its appreciation to the NSW Government which provided $1.8 million for the purchase of the land and the construction of the house. Without the preparedness of the NSW Government to back innovative housing solutions, high quality community based housing developments such as the Goulburn Abbeyfield House could not eventuate.

Abbeyfield Australia is currently developing another Abbeyfield House for young adults with an intellectual disability, this time in Narrabri, northern NSW. That Narrabri house has also been generously funded by the NSW Government to the tune of $2.6M and is expected to open in April / May 2013.

For enquires about the development of further Abbeyfield Houses, please contact Abbeyfield Australia CEO Chris Reside on 03 9419 8222 or email admin@abbeyfield.org.au