OUR OFFICES
Head Office
Maharlika Lodge™
Maharlika Lodge™
Our Head Office is co-located with Doveton Baptist Church, and supports all regions for AFCS' operations
Maharlika Lodge™
Maharlika Lodge™
Maharlika Lodge™
Maharlika Lodge™ is our respite house where we deliver day respite activities and short stays
Filipino Charity House (Morwell)
Over the past year, we have helped over 1,000 individuals in our community improve their mental health and well-being.
St Albans Office
Our St Albans Office is co-located with St Albans Uniting Church, and supports AFCS' operations in the West, North and Geelong regions
SOUTH SERVICE SITES
Head Office
Our Head Office supports all regions of AFCS' operations
Maharlika Lodge™
Maharlika Lodge™ is our respite house where we deliver day respite activities and short stays
Filipino Charity House (Doveton)
Filipino Charity House (Doveton)
Over the past year, we have helped over 1,000 individuals in our community improve their mental health and well-being.
EAST SERVICE SITES
Head Office
Rowville Uniting Church
Rowville Uniting Church
Our Head Office supports all regions of AFCS' operations with a focus on
South and East
Rowville Uniting Church
Rowville Uniting Church
Rowville Uniting Church
We utilise Rowville Uniting Church to deliver group social activities and to engage our clients and the community in the Eastern region
west SERVICE SITES
St Albans Office
Our St Albans Office is co-located with St Albans Uniting Church, and supports AFCS' operations in the West, North and Geelong regions
north SERVICE SITES
St Albans Office
Sunbury Seniors Hub
Sunbury Seniors Hub
Our St Albans Office is co-located with St Albans Uniting Church, and supports AFCS' operations in the West, North and Geelong regions
Sunbury Seniors Hub
Sunbury Seniors Hub
Sunbury Seniors Hub
Over the past year, we have helped over 1,000 individuals in our community improve their mental health and well-being.
geelong SERVICE SITES
WEST - St Albans Office
Our St Albans Office is co-located with St Albans Uniting Church, and supports AFCS' operations in the West, North and Geelong regions
gippsland SERVICE SITES
Filipino Charity House (Morwell)
Filipino Charity House (Morwell)
Filipino Charity House (Morwell)
Our St Albans Office is co-located with St Albans Uniting Church, and supports AFCS' operations in the West, North and Geelong regions
Community spaces
Filipino Charity House (Morwell)
Filipino Charity House (Morwell)
We utilise community spaces such as libraries to deliver group activities for seniors
maharlika lodge™
Australia's first Filipino and Dementia Specific Respite Home!
Maharlika Lodge™ is a respite house where we deliver the Maharlika Lodge™ Overnight Respite for Filipinos Living with Dementia and their Carers program. This three-year program (2023-2026) is an innovative program and model of respite care planning for people with Dementia and their carers. The program is funded under the Improving Respite Care for People with Dementia and their Carers grant
Respite, the Filipino way...
Experience respite the Filipino way. Rest and recharge. Whether you are a carer for
a family member or friend, or you need a break from home, Maharlika Lodge™ offers a fun, relaxing and joyous time!
Contact us to see if you or your loved one
is eligible for respite at Maharlika.
Maharlika Lodge Beginnings
In 2023, AFCS was 1 of 14 government-funded organisations in Australia to deliver an innovative respite care model through the Improving Respite Care for People with Dementia and their Carers grant from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. The funding enabled us to bring to life our culturally specific respite care model at Maharlika Lodge™ since 2023.
Our respite service at the Lodge has since evolved, now providing day respite for Carers, older people and people living with disabilities, under various state and federal funded activities and services.
Dementia-Specific Respite Program
The ‘Maharlika Lodge™ Overnight Respite for Filipinos Living with Dementia and their Carers’ program is a three-year initiative (2023-2026) designed to provide culturally and linguistically tailored care for Filipinos living with dementia and their carers. With activities such as gardening, reminiscing, carer-focused respite activities, information sessions, and referrals to specialist clinics, the program ensures culturally safe support through Filipino health professionals. The specialised model also provides Filipino-speaking staff, culturally authentic meals, and activities that celebrate Filipino heritage, ensuring a comforting and familiar environment for our participants.
our innovative respite care model
Since commencing respite stays in July 2023 to June 2025, Maharlika Lodge™ has become a trusted home‑away‑from‑home, supporting many carers and people living with dementia.
Be part of the growth, impact, and support making a difference for our community.
Informing the Sector
Last November 2025, we presented our first research poster on the impact of Maharlika Lodge™, sharing grassroots insights drawn from two years of data collected through the Zarit Carer Burden Survey, the Dementia Quality of Life (DEMQOL) measure, and testimonials from participants. This work highlighted how our culturally specialised innovative service model is supporting people living with dementia, and their carers, strengthening sector understanding of its value, impact and need.
Upcoming Conference Presentations 2026
We are delighted to be accepted to present our grassroots insights in 2026!
- Poster presentation at the 37th Global Conference of Alzheimer's Disease International on 14-16 April 2026 in Lyon, France. We will be presenting an additional poster about our work in the Philippines in the promotion of dementia awareness and dementia training for community leaders
- Guest Speaker at KeepAble's Reablement in Practice: Supporting Cognitive Health Conference 15 April 2026 online
- Guest Speaker at poster presentation at the International Dementia Conference 4-5 June 2026 in Sydney, New South Wales