Moving out at 42: My Journey Toward Independence

My current approval is for shared occupancy only, and unless my NDIS plan is reviewed and changed, this new chapter could come to an end in just twelve months. That knowledge sits quietly in the background of everything. This home feels like mine, yet it comes with a clock ticking in the distance.

For the past four years, I have been requesting a review of my accommodation funding. I have advocated for myself in every way I know how. I have spoken to local members of parliament, gathered support, and repeatedly explained my needs. Despite this, my plan has still been unchanged.

I want to be clear that I am grateful to have shared occupancy approval. I know many people do not even have that. After inspecting countless properties, I have never found one that felt like home. Too often, people with disabilities are placed together simply to fill vacancies, with little consideration of compatibility or individual needs. This can mean sharing with people who have complex behavioural or mental health needs, or even palliative care clients.

For someone like me, social, lively and working four days a week, that environment simply does not work. I need a quiet and stable space where I can work from home, rest properly, and feel safe. I want to live with people who feel like family, not strangers I am forced to adapt to. Despite years of searching, I never found that situation.

Last November, my support coordinator found a single occupancy apartment through a provider willing to accept my shared occupancy funding while my plan is under review. It felt like a lifeline. A small window of possibility. I now have twelve months to secure the funding I need, or I will have to move out. It is stressful and unsettling, and it is also the closest I have ever been to the life I want.

This is not just my story.

For many people with a disability, moving out of the family home is incredibly difficult. NDIS funding for independent living is becoming harder to access, which means many people may never get the opportunity to experience independence at all. Independence is not a luxury. It is right. Everyone deserves the chance to build a life of their own, to feel safe, supported, and empowered.

Despite the stress, there have been moments of pure joy. Moving out at 42 means I get to experience all the firsts many people take for granted. Buying my first couch, choosing my own bed, picking out kitchen equipment, buying my first fridge and yes, everything is pink. My toaster, kettle, canisters, cocktail set, plates, sheets, towels, and even Oliver’s new dog bowl. Pink makes me happy, and this is my chance to create a space that reflects who I am.

Although I have not officially moved in, I have already met some of my neighbours and they have been warm and welcoming. That alone has eased me so much of my anxiety. Ten people with disabilities live within the building, each in their own apartment, supported through individual arrangements. The complex was designed six years ago with accessibility and independence in mind, and these apartments are highly sought after for good reason.

They offer the balance I have been craving, independence, privacy and support when needed, all within a mainstream community setting. Being surrounded by families and everyday community life gives me a sense of belonging.

Working for Achieve Australia has shaped my understanding of what good support looks like. I have interviewed many people who describe exactly what I want for myself. A place of belonging, a place of safety and a sense that someone has your back while still respecting your independence. I hope this new apartment offers the same quality of support, support that empowers people to live the life they choose.

I will not pretend that I am not nervous. I have never lived alone before. Some days, I am excited and cannot wait to start this new chapter. Other days, I am overwhelmed with questions. Will I cope? Will I feel safe? Will Oliver adjust? Will I regret this? It is an emotional rollercoaster, thrilling one moment and terrifying the next.

From my balcony, I can see treetops stretching toward North Ryde and the city beyond. It feels like a view into the future, wide, open, and full of possibility.

Once I have settled in, I will be able to share what it truly feels like to finally live on my own.