Megan is 38 and has an intellectual disability. Her ILA journey began when her parents wanted to give her the opportunity for greater independence. Provided with ILO funding in her NDIS plan, Meghan now lives in a house in Melbourne’s inner north, with daily support and a great housemate, Isabel.
“Meghan’s mum and dad wanted to see what other options there were out there for someone like Meghan, who has always had a mind to be more independent and try to do things for herself,” says Court Walters, head of the Home and Living Team at Milparinka, a disability support organisation in Victoria.
After securing NDIS funding for ILO explore and design, Milparinka helped Meghan take her next step. Meghan got involved by sitting down and looking at rental listings. She now lives in a beautiful house in Brunswick West in Melbourne.
“The house is cool. It’s got a garden and everything,” Meghan says.
Meghan also has a housemate, Isabel, who she’s lived with for two years now.
“Isabel is my housemate. She cooks dinner, then calls me and I’ll put the dishes away and wash up. Teamwork!” Meghan says.
While Meghan receives around twenty-six hours of support per week (mainly focused around prompting household tasks), Isabel’s role focuses on guidance and companionship. Meghan and Isabel cook together, socialise together and plan out domestic and social tasks each week.
Says Court, “She’s not a support worker that lives in the house – she’s a genuine housemate for Meghan.”
Isabel’s contributions are recognised through the arrangement, and her housing costs are in turn covered by Milparinka. Isabel regularly checks in with Meghan’s ILO facilitator to ensure the living arrangements always run smoothly.
While she lives with Meghan most of the week, on Wednesdays Isabel has a break – an arrangement that was previously supported by paid staff.
However, “Recently, Meghan has decided she doesn’t need that anymore, so she’s having nights to herself on Wednesdays which is going really well,” Court says.
Since moving into her own place, Meghan’s life has blossomed. She works part time at an op shop, loves hunting for and customising fashion finds, swims, and catches up with her sister for regular dinners.
Court observes, “Meghan’s making more decisions about her own life and what she wants to do.”
Her support worker Millie says, “She lives an independent lifestyle, she can make her own choices and live her life the way she wants to live it.”