[The video opens with Anne and her son, Dan, sitting on her patio.]
Anne: Dan’s a 33 year-old young man who, when he was a new born baby, my first baby, I was delighted in having a baby boy to carry on the name. As he’s grown, when he was about two, we were told he had a disability, or possibly had a disability, which impacted on his reading and writing and his speech.
As he got older he began to develop a more of a behavioural issue which then lead him into some trouble with police. So when he was about 18 he actually moved out of home into a community residential unit with St John of God Services.
Until his behaviour got really, really off the tracks.
He actually ended up in custody for a period of time. He came out of custody and he went into a special accommodation place.
Then in the end we had him come home more so we could keep a bit of a closer eye on him.
When he moved here we thought where are we going to now have him live and reside. Ability Assist are an organisation of carers and they, the manager there, said, ‘Anne have you thought about a movable unit’ and I said, ‘A movable unit, I don’t know what are they. What is it?’
Trevor D’Souza, Movable Units, DHHS [Department of Health & Human Services]: Movable units are also known as a dependent person’s unit. It is a self-contained unit. It comprises of a bedroom, a living area, bathroom facilities and kitchen facilities.
It is normally placed on people’s backyard. Movable units are mainly occupied by elderly persons or persons with a disability.
The advantage is that the person living in a movable unit lives independently with support and care from a family, friend or a carer.
Anne: It’s been, it’s been absolutely wonderful.
He comes, he’s slowly getting used to the idea that it’s not just a bedroom. It’s a place where he’s got to come and go.
[Dan walks the short distance from the patio to his movable unit]
That’s where he lives. He’s welcome to come home to mum and dad, even though it’s just a few steps.
Mum and dad don’t have to drive him home any longer.
We just say, ‘Oh good night Dan, see you, good trip home’.
And walks out the back door, down there and he’s in his unit and it’s just fantastic.
He loves it, he just loves it.
If someone was in a similar situation to what we are here with Dan or a child in need, I’d advise them I think it’s an absolutely wonderful, wonderful thing.
In fact I’ll probably even cry because I think it’s absolutely, it’s been just a lifesaver.
[Caption: Authorised by the Department of Health & Human Services, 50 Lonsdale St, Melbourne]