VASS - Ventilator Accommodation Support Service

Our Ventilator Accommodation Support Service (VASS) is a NDIS funded service that provides accommodation and high-level 24-hour support for people who are chronically dependent on mechanical ventilation or have complex respiratory supports.

Located in Thornbury, Yooralla’s VASS features three long-term residential houses, and one house for people who require either planned or emergency short-term accommodation (respite). The accommodation is supported by an uninterruptible power supply, with medical-grade back-up generators that protect ventilator systems from power failures.

When you stay at VASS, you are encouraged to treat it as your home! This means that, in collaboration with your fellow residents and the team who support you, you choose how you want to spend your time and how your supports will be delivered. Check-in and check-out times are fully flexible to work with your routine.

Whether staying at VASS for a short time or longer, you have full access to the expansive outdoor spaces including food forest garden and a large BBQ area, providing the perfect setting to relax or have your friends and family visit. VASS is also in a prime location conveniently nestled in a residential street next to the Darebin Creek trail and less than 2kms from Fairfield Village shopping precinct.

We understand that for many people, privacy is an absolute necessity, so we offer all single rooms – there are no shared rooms within the homes. Each room is spacious, has an ensuite attached, and is fitted with individual heating, cooling and TVs.

Our staff have extensive training and experience in ventilator, tracheostomy and oxygen supports in addition to complex bowel management, urinary catheter care, dysphagia, mealtime management, enteral feeding, and subcutaneous injections. 

Our highly skilled staff can support you to live independently in the community, while also assisting with the management of
complex health needs. To make sure that you receive quality care day and night, there are registered nurses on site, 24-hours a day.

The service is overseen by a steering committee, chaired by the Australian Ventilator Users Network, who works with Yooralla to ensure the support being delivered is in accordance with your personal wishes and needs.