Disability Life Enrichment

Disability Life Enrichment

Disability Life Enrichment, through the Catalina Lakeside Retreat, is looking to make a difference in the lives of those with a disability and their carers. In providing a venue which is friendly, on the shores of picturesque Lake Macquarie, with surrounding parks and walkways, our aim is to provide an experience which is refreshing and unique.

14be5ec92dc4b76da2bf3f54d85d6d0b Disability Life Enrichment

Mission Statement

597b481951f9f.preview Disability Life Enrichment

We aim to enrich the lives of people with disabilities, by acting to relieve their suffering, both emotional and physical, their distress and feeling of helplessness that results from social isolation; by providing opportunities for group interaction, we aim to assist them to build a sense of community and thereby enhance their well-being, and thereby integrating with the wider community.

David and Heather Hagen share a passion to help people with a disability to enjoy a better quality of life. This is part of the greater vision that has led them to make a contribution wherever possible, to improve the lot of people less fortunate.

David and Heather Hagen
David & Heather Hagen
Make a donation
Make a donation

You can also help make a difference in the life of someone with a disability. Thanks to the support of our corporate, church, school, and community clients, we are able to support Disability Life Enrichment in providing outreach to groups with special needs.

Searching for large group Accommodation at a peaceful lakefront retreat? Look no further.

Searching for large group Accommodation at a peaceful lakefront retreat?

Look no further.

Catalina Lake-Front Retreat is a fully accessible, single-story facility that fronts onto beautiful Lake Macquarie. Located near Toronto, just south of Newcastle, NSW right on the foreshore. Watching the afternoon light twinkling on its rippling water is the perfect tonic to help you physically and mentally relax, to recover from life’s stresses and pressures, and to fortify yourself.

Surrounded by bush or parklands on three sides, this peaceful environment offers shaded walks along the waterfront to nearby historical war-time sites and village shops within walking distance.

Facilities inside include a café-style dining area overlooking the BBQ entertaining area facing the lake, and the alternative of a covered all-weather courtyard if you prefer to dine alfresco. The accommodation is simple, but spacious and comfortable, with most rooms having their own large ensuites. Bedrooms come in a range of varying sizes, sleeping singles, doubles, multi-bed groupings, or larger bunk rooms.

Catalina has a well-equipped commercial kitchen with facilities for large group catering. In fact, it is Catalina’s ability to accommodate larger groups that sets it apart. Its central roomy auditorium, for example, seats up to 100, with additional smaller intimate conference rooms. Being designed as a former wartime facility, traversing internally is easy with wide corridors that loop around the facility, with not a step anywhere.

And for those who are more agile, Catalina has road and mountain bikes for exploring the quiet nearby streets or bushland tracks. It is also stocked with a range of leisure and sports equipment, including canoes, Cricket, football, archery, all available at no extra cost.

Whilst there is no swimming enclosure nearby, the newly refurbished council jetty provides a great jump-off point for those looking for a swim in the refreshing saltwater of Lake Mac.

So, round up your friends and plan a time away at a location where you are free to soak up the atmosphere as you enjoy the quality time together.

 

  • Disability retreats and camps
  • Disability camps for kids or adults
  • Holidays for families with a special needs member
  • Accommodation for disability travel groups
  • Day programs
  • Training – music, skills of living
  • Sleepovers – movie night, disco
  • Family parties/reunions
  • Carer retreats
  • Group respite

Catalina Lakeside Retreat provides an environment far removed from the distractions of city life, where participants will be sure to enjoy the opportunity to engage in recreational activities.

Conferences

Your patronage will also help make a difference in the life of people with disabilities. Thanks to the support of our corporate and community clients, we are able to support our charitable program of reaching out to groups with special needs.

Are you planning an event that requires both function rooms and large group accommodation? Look no further than Catalina Lake-Front Retreat. The retreat’s facilities may just be the answer!

Community Activites

At Catalina Lake-Front Retreat we are dedicated to reaching out to groups with special needs. Your patronage of Catalina Lake-Front Retreat assists us in making a difference in the life of people with disabilities.

Are you finding it a challenge to locate a venue that offers large group accommodation, catering facilities, and function rooms to engage with others socially?

Church Activities

Catalina is located on the waterfront, surrounded by extensive parklands, with paved walking/cycling tracks and sporting fields. Enjoy a walk, ride a bike, do some fishing, or just enjoy the peace and quiet with no nearby neighbors.

Coming to the Hunter to play some sport? Need accommodation for a large group? Like to find a comfortable venue with plenty of room to move and connect with the local lakeside environment?

Look no further than Catalina Lake-Front Retreat. Our facility may just be the answer!

Sporting Activities

The Hunter Region offers many opportunities for a day of relaxation at its world-class beaches, a visit to the vineyards or sailing on the lake – schedule permitting of course

At Catalina Lake-Front Retreat we are dedicated to reaching out to groups with special needs. Your patronage of Catalina Lake-Front Retreat assists us in making a difference in the life of people with disabilities

  • Conference rooms
  • Accommodate up to 100 guests
  • Multimedia
  • OHP
  • Big screen
  • Internal sound system/microphone
  • Set-up to use laptop or DVD
  • Large screen TV
  • Lending library, music CD’s, DVD’s
  • Free Wi-Fi internet
  • Private meeting rooms and lounges
  • A variety of accommodation options from single rooms to larger dormitory rooms
  • Indoor recreation room
  • Large dining area (catering can be arranged)
  • Air-conditioned - reverse cycle
  • Outdoor BBQ area
  • Laundry facilities
  • Onsite parking

Surrounding sports fields, parks, and paved walks near the water for team building or unwinding after the day’s activities.

 

About Catalina Lakefront Retreat

IT ALL BEGAN in 2012 - when we observed that there were not too many places where friends and family could come together in a relaxing atmosphere.

Finding this spacious, single-level facility surrounded by parkland offered a unique opportunity to create a comfortable and homely place where our guests, regardless of their dependence on wheelchairs, walkers or seeing-eyes, would enjoy their stay and want to come back often.

Gradually the WWII RAAF Base Hospital at Rathmines was transformed into a comfortable and inviting facility, by an enthusiastic team of tradespeople and helpers who have taken a good deal of pride in producing a great outcome.

Disability groups

Disability groups

Catalina Lakefront Retreat plays an active role in facilitating group events and promoting social inclusion for those with special needs. Disability Life Enrichment has a goal to build a sense of community and well-being for those with special needs.

The Catalina Lakefront Retreat provides a facility for disability care providers and individuals to enjoy activities, social interaction, respite or education.

  • Disability camps for kids or adults
  • Holidays for families with a special needs member
  • Accommodation for disability travel groups
  • Day programs
  • Training – music, skills of living
  • Sleepovers – movie night, disco
  • Family parties / reunions
  • Carer retreats
  • Group respite
  • and more

Accessible features include

  • Plenty of parking, ramp access to the building
  • Wheelchair access to all parts of the building
  • no steps
  • wide hallways with rails
  • wide doors
  • Accessible rooms with wheelchair-friendly ensuites
  • Multiple Accessible bathrooms
  • Accessible dining area and outdoor BBQ
  • Disability Accessories – lifter (bring own sling), shower chairs, hi-lo beds

The surrounding area will also enhance the experience here at the Centre. There are sporting fields for active kids, or even adults, and flat, paved walkways which meander through parks and by the water. There’s also a jetty where you could drop a line in and try your luck.

Lady in wheelchair
accessible bathroom
Disability lift

Group Accommodation

Group accommodation for people with special needs.

CATALINA LAKEFRONT RETREAT at Rathmines, on beautiful Lake Macquarie near Newcastle, in the Hunter region, is the ideal venue for social functions or business conferences.  Spacious meeting rooms and a lake-front dining room together with a commercial kitchen for self-catering are provided for your enjoyment.

Are you looking for a conference facility, with fully-equipped function rooms, plus accommodation for large groups, in an out-of-town location?

Look No Further

Group accommodation solutions include :

Single Rooms

group accommodation

A single room usually has a waterfront view and contains either
*   Queen size bed
*   King Single bed
Some bedrooms contain a private or shared ensuite.

Others have a bathroom located in close proximity to the hallway.

family room accommodation

A family room consists of a Queen bed and 3 King Single beds or 5 king single beds.

bunk bed accommodation

This venue caters to all disability group accommodation.