A PLACE TO CALL HOME
Moving into a new home is always a big moment – but for Lesley, it’s been truly life-changing. After looking at several potential homes in QLD, she has finally found a place she can call home, thanks to the team at PNP Group. We sat down with Lesley to chat about her journey, the challenges she’s faced, and what she loves most about her new SDA home in Caboolture.
Lesley’s Story
Lesley was born and bred in Sydney, before moving to Penrith where she raised three beautiful children with her husband Jason. Lesley’s passion has always been centred around helping others and while she wasn’t being a mum, she held many Nursing positions in various Hospitals working for NSW Health.
Lesley can remember vividly when she first realised something was amiss with her health.
“When I was taking a patient on a stretcher at Westmead Hospital, all of a sudden I couldn’t feel my legs. I thought I’d had a stroke. Something happened and I felt so so upset and I got back to the ward where I took the patient from and they said go home you better go home quickly”.
A few weeks later Lesley was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.
Once the realisation set in that she had MS, Lesley started to think about her future and what that might look like.
“What’s going happen to me. Where am I going to go? My boys have all got married and doing their own thing now. I needed to come up with a plan”
After months of research looking into what support and accommodation services were available to her, Lesley applied for SDA funding through the NDIS. Like many others her applications were rejected over and over.
“I found out that only 3% of applications ever get approved. So, I asked myself… How am I going to through this… how can I get approval for the funding?”
Fortunately, shortly thereafter, Lesley made contact with an SDA Service Provider who took a genuine interest in her situation and put her needs first.
“Greg Barragan has a team that honestly are to die for. They know the ins and outs back to front and said they were not going to give up on me.”
It took almost 2 years for Lesley’s funding to be approved.
The road to finding the right fit
Finding suitable housing wasn’t easy. Lesley shared how difficult it had been to find a home that truly worked for her – not just physically, but emotionally too.
Her first stop became a nightmare. A home that mixed robust and high physical support led to a series of unsavoury incidents.
“My car was smashed, and another resident threw large objects over the fence which landed on my head while I was in the hydrotherapy pool. I was scared to step outside the front door and thought I can’t live like this anymore”
Lesley joined Nest (Nest is an online tool for people with disability and providers of disability housing. Nest matches people with disability to homes that meet their needs, support requirements and lifestyle choices) to find and apply for a new home.
“That’s when I received a call from Marcus from PNP Group. I explained that I thought I had already found a property through the NEST website, but he encouraged me to come and have a look at Apollo Apartments. I said ok… and that turned out to be one of the best decisions I had ever made”
“I walked in, and my first words were NO WAY! I had never seen anything like this before”.
Understandably, Lesley was filled with emotions. This could be her new home… and after only one week… it was.
When we asked Lesley how it felt to settle into her new home, her infectious smile lit up the room.
“It’s peaceful, comfortable, and so modern. I finally feel like I belong here.”
Lesley’s new home has been thoughtfully designed to meet her needs – everything from wide doorways, automatic doors, assistive technology throughout, spacious indoor and outdoor areas, gated security, a therapy room and overnight assistance accommodation had all been considered.
“It’s the little things that make the biggest difference. I can move around freely, I can entertain my family and friends and my little Maltese Terriers, Nikky D & Heidi Ho just love the outdoor areas. Independence means the world to me.”
Support from the PNP team
Lesley first heard about PNP Group when Co-founder Marcus Pavlakis reached out to her after reading about her housing requirements on NEST.
She recalls, “They actually listened. I didn’t feel like just another number – they genuinely cared about what I needed and what I wanted.”
Lesley chose the apartment that featured her favourite colour green. The sage tile splashbacks and colouring give her apartment a feeling of balance, harmony and tranquillity. She had finally found her happy place.
“At night the outdoor lights bring the gardens alive… it’s like stepping into another world”.
A fresh start, and a hopeful future
Since moving in, Lesley says the biggest change is in how she feels day to day.
“I’ve got my confidence back. I’m more independent, I’m more relaxed, and I feel safe.”
Looking ahead, she’s excited about what the future holds.
“This home gives me the stability I need to plan ahead. Once I’ve finished unpacking all my boxes, I’d love to have friends over, organise a cheese and wine night and barbeque with my sons. I finally have the space and the freedom to do that.”
A message for others on the same journey
Lesley knows she’s not the only one who’s struggled to find a place that feels right. Her message for others?
“Don’t give up. The right home is out there. And if you work with the right people like the team at PNP, it really can happen. I urge anyone that is looking for a new accessible and well-designed home to come and look at Apollo Apartments.”
Want to learn more about how PNP Group is creating homes that support choice, dignity, and independence? Or perhaps you’d like to arrange an inspection of Apollo Apartment in Caboolture? Contact us on 1300 762 467 or visit www.sdaboots.com for more information and to register your interest.
What are you waiting for?