Residents began to arrive in the morning, on a sunny but windy Melbourne day. They came by taxi, hospital mini-van and patient transport, to be welcomed into their new home by members of the Monash Health aged care team.
This day has been years in the making. The first sod was turned at the construction site at the Kingston Centre in September 2023. On the site, Eastwood Hostel had stood, which was demolished to make way for the new, purpose-built facility that would become Monash Health’s flagship aged care home.
Teams from across Monash Health met for many months to plan and prepare for the closure of three homes – Yarraman Nursing Home, Allambee Nursing Home and Mooraleigh Hostel – and the transition to the new 150 bed centre.
The centre’s facility manager, Ilona Vaksman, previously worked in the same role at the former Eastwood Hostel. She had nothing but praise for how everyone has pulled together as a cohesive team. ‘There are so many people to thank. Opening a facility of this size couldn’t have happened as smoothly as it has without everyone’s enthusiasm, hard work and compassion.
‘Many of the people who worked at Eastwood Hostel went on to different roles, once the home closed. We have now been reunited at Boollam Boollam and there have been lots of hugs and tears! It is lovely to see.
‘This is unknown territory for many of us and it’s hard to plan for the unknown. It’s amazing that everyone came together to make it all happen,’ Ilona said.
Eddie’s son Esnaf was one of the first residents to be welcomed at Boollam Boollam on Monday 15 September 2025. His enthusiasm and gratitude shone through as he described the new environment. ‘Ten out of ten, 11 out of ten. I’ve seen it but I don’t believe it.’
Esnaf spent the last six years at Yarraman and Eddie is acutely aware of the challenges and expectations of finding the right place for a loved one to live. He has cared for Esnaf on his own for many years. When asked about the most important factor in choosing a home for his son, Eddie said: ‘To be looked after and to be clean. That’s all I need, for him to be clean and comfortable.’
The heart of any aged care facility lies not in its walls, but in the dedication and compassion of its care team. Eddie’s appreciation is evident. ‘Staff [from Yarraman] were great, I’ve never had any complaints. If you ring the buzzer, in two minutes people are there. I hope they will continue to be the way they were.’
Katherine Morgan was also one of the first residents to move to Boollam Boollam. For residents, particularly those transitioning from familiar surroundings like Katherine, the presence of a committed team brings comfort and reassurance in uncertain times. ‘I got a bit worried at first, changing from one place to another,’ Katherine said. ‘I’ll be more comfortable with the staff moving from Yarraman [to Boollam Boollam].’
When employees are wholeheartedly invested in their roles, residents benefit in countless ways. For families, knowing their loved ones are in the hands of a caring team is both a relief and a source of gratitude. ‘All the staff, they know Esnaf and they know his needs, they know what he’s like,’ Eddie said.
Monash Health’s aged care team all play an essential role in providing care to residents, whether they be in the nursing team, allied health, support services, other health care workers or administration.
