The Property

Chiron Support Farm is based on five acres, in Wesburn Victoria in the beautiful Warburton Valley. The flat area was a blank canvas when Julie and her partner purchased the property and it has been designed for hosting disability clients. The land has been fenced in zones so clients can move safely from one zone to another, enabling humans and animals to meet gradually.

Zone 1; The client enters the area with the activity room, outdoor craft area and rose garden area. This allows clients to be introduced and given time before they move toward the animals.

Zone 2; The orchard, playground, dog agility, vegetable gardens, trampoline and room to run about and play ball. From this area, the clients can meet the llama and the goats over the fence. This allows safe interaction between the animals and humans and we can assess how further contact can be continued. Clients who are keen to interact with the dogs can do this in this area. The dogs will remain in the house yard until clients are happy to meet them and it has been assessed that it will be a good experience for both the client and the dog. The chook pen can be accessed from this area and collecting the eggs or holding a chook is always a highlight.

Zone 3; The large aminal area for the llama and the goats. Once clients have been assessed as safe to be in with the larger animals they can enter the third zone. The llama and the goats have very different personalities and can be separated depending on the client's needs. The llama are extremely gentle but not so hands-on and goats just want as much attention as they can get.

Zone 3A; A gate from the playground area leads up to the stable (Courage, the Equicizer), pony yard and activity arena and pony feed room. In this area the pony can be handled one on one so there are no other distractions. However, the pony does not live in the yard and is only moved here for clients participating in Equine Facilitated Learning. The Equicizer can be ridden either in the stable or it can be moved into the activity arena. The activity arena can also be used for various activities like riding a bike, kicking a ball and various allied health related activities.

Zone 4; The pony paddock is at the back and off to the side, so you work your way down there. There is a special area with a slightly lower fence with a rail specially designed for interaction over the fence. Everywhere else the fences are higher than normal to discourage climbing over, they are impossible to go through and the gates have double catches which are quite difficult to open if you do not know how.

Zone 5; The native bush has a circular track that runs up the hill to the open area at the top and a wonderful view and then back down through the pine trees. 
 

For less mobile clients, they can be driven or use their wheel chairs to move down the outside driveway to the animal area or up to the stable and activity arena.

The main house and yard is fenced separately and is not to be accessed by clients. There is an outside flushable toilet and hand washing area near the car park.