- New centre combines specialist library and toy service
- $75,000 funding rescue for former Noah's Ark Toy Library
Disability Services Minister Stephen Dawson has today officially opened a new combined toy and library service for people with disability and their families in East Victoria Park.
The new Activ Learning and Discovery Centre sees the merger of Western Australia's largest disability library with the State's biggest toy library for children living with disability.
The merger has successfully rescued the service provided by the former Noah's Ark Toy Library in Morley, which closed in 2017 after many years of offering specialist resources including toys, games and play equipment for families of children with disability and their carers, teachers and therapy providers.
Activ Foundation Inc. is one of Western Australia's largest providers of disability services and has supported people with disability, their families and carers since 1951.
The State Government provides Activ with recurrent funding through the Department of Communities to deliver individualised and family support services, including accommodation, daily living wellbeing and respite, to almost 2,000 people of all ages across Western Australia.
The Government provided Activ with an additional $75,000 for the transfer of management, relocation and refurbishment of Noah's Ark Toy Library.
The new Activ Learning and Discovery Centre will offer members access to information services as well as a large collection of specialist books and play-based resources.
Noah's Ark WA Toy Library supported up to 200 families of children with disability to implement age and skill-appropriate activities that suited a child's individual needs.
Comments attributed to Disability Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
"I want to congratulate Activ for continuing its commitment to re-establish this service and for providing certainty for young people with disability and their families.
"It was a significant loss to families of people with disability when Noah's Ark Toy Library in Morley closed late last year, and many people contacted my office about the impending closure.
"Today's official opening is a huge achievement for the families of Western Australia, for the disability sector and for this wonderful host organisation."
Minister's office - 6552 5800
