We recently met Jack Kelly when he took us on a guided tour of the available villa at his new home in Woolooware, Sutherland Shire.

Jack moved into Streater Place, Civic’s new SIL & SDA development, in January of this year. He is helping Civic find the final person who can call this their home – and whom he’ll call his neighbour.

We caught up with Jack in his new villa to find out more about him and his move to Streater Place.

Why did you decide to move to Streater Place?
I tried a sea change up in Newcastle, but the disability provider didn’t meet all my care needs, and I had a couple of hospital admissions.

It’s also hard to work with a provider when you don’t know the area, and they are asking what you want to do today, but you don’t know.

So, I decided that it wasn’t working for me, and I wanted to return home to the Shire.

The transition was pretty smooth sailing. My mum is now close by, only about four suburbs away. It’s also close to one of my old accommodations, so I like to visit them from time to time.

What do you like about living at Streater Place?
I like the fact that it’s not far from the local beach. Cronulla’s about 20-30 minutes’ walk away. And it’s pretty smooth footpaths all the way!

There are good transport options as it’s in the middle of Woolooware and Caringbah train stations.

The staff here also respect my choices. For example, they’re open to how I prefer to organise my medications.

Why is having that choice so important to you?
Because of my needs, I don’t have a lot of control over my body or even the way that I eat and drink.

I’m a big believer in giving me three choices, like picking out my clothes in the morning. It’s all about giving me choices.

So, it’s really important that staff at a new site are educated to focus on a person-centered approach.

How has Civic used a person-centered approach to care?
Civic has been very responsive to my needs and suggestions. We are working on how to incorporate more assistive technology into the home, and they plan to add automated doors to some of the villas, which will be helpful.

Can you tell us about the work that you do?
I work for the Council for Intellectual Disability. We’ve been around for 65 years – as long as Civic!

We help improve the lives of people with an intellectual disability right across NSW. We cater for a big cohort. We don’t do individual advocacy, but we do more group and community issues.

What do you enjoy most about your work?
I like the resources we’ve developed and the conferences I’ve presented at. It’s about raising awareness around people with an intellectual disability and making sure they can live in a way that allows them to make their own decisions as much as possible.

I think it’s important to remember to put them first, whether they’re nonverbal or verbal, and make them the driver of their own choices in their day-to-day life. We need to work as a team to try and put those choices together so a person can live a more meaningful life.

What changes would you like to see in employment for people with disability?
I would like to see more organisations employing people with disability.

One day, it would be great to get comparable work and comparable pay. We need to move away from the story of underpaying people with disability.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I’m a massive musical theatre man, but I don’t have a sports bone in my body! I know this is divisive when living in the Shire. When people say, “Go the Sharkies!” I’m like, sorry, I’m not much of a sports fan!

I also like going for walks around Cronulla and going up to the local Westfield in Miranda.

What are your goals for the future?
I would like to travel a bit more, have a broader experience within Australia, and maybe travel overseas.

If I could go anywhere, I would go to the OG Disneyland. Not Paris, not Japan – the OG in California!

We’re thrilled to see Jack looking settled and at home in Streater Place. With the help of his mum and Civic staff, Jack has made his villa personal to him. There are just a few things left to hang on the walls and a new neighbour to find!

Thank you, Jack, for being part of this process and for letting us get to know you.

If you’d like to become Jack’s new neighbour, you can explore the available villa or contact our enquiry team to find out more.

May 2024