Tara's transition story
Tara* enjoys music, loud laughter, and knowing where every item sits. She has been without sight since birth and had only received one to three support – not the one-to-one help she truly needed. When that support was cut, the hours vanished. Tara spent long days alone in her room, hearing housemates go by but unable to join them.
Achieve heard about Tara’s isolation and stepped in. When a quiet villa opened up, the team mapped out full one-to-one support. Before move-in, mobility specialists walked every hallway with Tara, counting steps and marking low-level touch points from bed to kitchen to garden gate. While her income support is still being processed, staff set up all the utilities and essentials so she could settle in without worry.
Today, Tara sets her own pace. Weekends include horse riding, short shopping trips, and manicures with her favourite team member. She can trace every step from the villa door to the garden gate, counting pavers, feeling the warmth of the path and listening for the fountain’s splash. The team are there when needed, but the soundtrack she hears most often is her own: music playlists and the easy laughter of the housemates who’ve become friends.
Achieve Australia is a for-purpose community organisation that has been providing accommodation and services to people with disability since 1952.
We champion social inclusion, focusing on the individual needs and lives of the people we support