About Us
About ralac
ralac is a proud community based NFP providing affordable housing and residential care to the elderly or vulnerable in our community. We operate across three sites in Melbourne’s outer eastern suburbs.
Lionsbrae is our residential care home with a difference. We are small, independent, community based, and we care. Lionsbrae is a unique residential care home in Ringwood East and our residents reflect the vibrancy and diversity of the broader community: many are elderly, many are under 65, some need a high level of care, and some are NDIS participants.
Wilana Village is our smaller community housing village comprising 13 comfortable Independent Living Units set amongst attractive gardens.
Lionswood Village is our larger community housing village in Kirk Street Ringwood, comprising a mix of 50 bed sits, one-bedroom Independent Living Unit (ILU) and a two-bedroom ILU, all set amongst large attractive gardens.
Our History
ralac’s heritage stems back to 1963 with the opening of the Lionswood Village affordable housing site in Kirk Street, Ringwood. Later in 2003, three regional Lions Clubs merged their respective community housing and aged care services to create Ringwood Area Lions Aged Care Inc. and ‘ralac’ was born.
We Love the NDIS!
Lionsbrae is proud to be one of very few residential care facilities to employ an NDIS Integration Coordinator / Support Coordinator.
Our NDIS IC/SC is based at Lionsbrae on a part time basis. Their role is to liaise with NDIS support services to assist all our residents that are NDIS participants to achieve the maximum benefit from their NDIS packages. They can also be appointed as support coordinator for NDIS participants, meaning they have daily access to their support coordinator. You can contact our NDIS IC/SC at disability@ralac.org.au
Our Vision & Mission
ralac will strive to provide quality care, services and accommodation to the elderly and most vulnerable in our community.
Our Philosophy
ralac’s organisational philosophy drives what we do and who we are. Encapsulated in four uncomplicated ethos, it guides our decisions, conduct and commitment to residents. They are:
Live simply
Love generously
Care deeply
Speak kindly
Life Governors
ralac bestows Life membership upon individuals in recognition of their great service to the organisation. It is our highest honour to recognize volunteer service to the organisation.
The following remarkable individuals have been conferred as Life Governors for their exceptional voluntary service to ralac and our community:
1989 I Kirkpatrick **
1989 B Riddell **
1989 W Pritchard **
1990 R German **
1994 Bob Gallacher *
1997 Barbara Riddell*
1997 K Riddell **
1997 M Tresise **
1997 H East **
1999 William (Bill) Wilkins*
1999 (Dr) Philip Fung*
1999 Graeme Sinclair*
2001 Pat Purdy*
2005 Graeme Sinclair
2007 Jan Howard
2010 Max Tresise
2010 Bob Worthington
2019 Pamela Richards
2019 Lesly Cooper
2019 Barbara Moss
2019 Julie Groves
* Life Governorships conferred by the Lionsbrae Hostel Inc (a predecessor of ralac).
** Life Governorships conferred by Ringwood Lions Wilana, Elderly Peoples Home (a predecessor of ralac)