Yooralla

In 1918, Evangeline Ireland (Sister Faith) found a severely disabled child under a chicken coop. She had been left there while her parents were at work. Like many working class parents, they had no access to welfare or any of the support services that we take for granted today.

Miss Ireland was so distressed that she established a free kindergarten in inner-suburban Melbourne for children with disabilities. The kindergarten was named ‘Yooralla’ - an Aboriginal word meaning “place of love”.

Because of Miss Ireland's determination and vision, many thousands of children and adults with disabilities and their carers have received valuable therapy, training and support.

Yooralla is one of Victoria's oldest and largest non-profit community service providers. The service assists people who live with a disability acquired from birth, accident, ill-health or age, to do everyday things like eating, moving about, talking, showering, working and generally living independently.

Yooralla helps around 30,000 Victorians with disabilities every year, many on a daily basis.

It provides an integrated range of innovative and responsive services developed and shaped in consultation with those who use them.
Yooralla offers pre-school, school-aged and adult therapy services including nursing, speech pathology, occupational therapy and education therapy. The Service also provides opportunities for people with a disability to access residential accommodation, in-and out-of-home respite, attendant care or alternative care for children with a disability, equipment, advocacy, employment and recreation services.