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The Story Of The Benambra Intentional Community

sally Richards And timothy west May 2014

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The Story of the Benambra

A place to call

The story of the Benumbra Intentionall community

sally richards and timothy west. may 2014

Getting a Life Family Governed Group 2014

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The ISBN 978-0-646-92108-2

First published: May 2014

Citation

Sally Richards and Tim West (2014). A place to call home: The story of the Benambra Intentional Community, Getting a Life Family Governed Group, Canberra.

Contact Details

sally@jacksonwest.org M: 0402 418 974

Price

$20.00 for organisations, businesses and government departments

$10.00 for families or people with a disability

Thank you

Janet Salisbury, Lisa Abbott and the team at Biotext, Canberra for editing and design work

Foreword

The Benambra Intentional Community project is a story of love, hope and commitment. It’s also about how something wonderful can be achieved when government and community take a risk on an idea and work together to achieve it.

My first involvement with the project came in 2004 when I met with Sally Richards to listen to her idea for her son Jackson to live independently in an environment where his rights were acknowledged and respected. Karen Connaughton and Cheryl Pattrick soon joined Sally to create the Getting a Life team – forming a formidable team advocating for a new accommodation arrangement that recognised their three sons’ right to not only inindependent housing but also a home.

I watched from a distance as these three women campaigned, organised and gathered supporters around them. Everywhere they went the momentum for this project grew. One of the strengths of the Getting a Life (now Benambra) Intentional Community project was that it was developed from the communities that knew and loved Jackson, Ben and Dan. The model wasn’t imposed from above, which would have required the young men to ft in, but instead it was crafted around their needs first, giving it the very best chance of success.

As I watched this project develop over a number of years, culminating in the official opening in 2013 by the Governor-General of Australia, I have been inspired by
the families’ work and dedication to secure for their sons what many of us take for granted. I’ve also been heartened by the ability of the oft criticised bureaucracy to work flexibility to deliver a new way of supporting families and people with a disability. The partnerships made with the nongovernment sector, in particular Hartley Lifecare, have also been essential to the overall success of the project.

This project stands as a shining example of what can happen when good people work together to create for three young men what sustains us all — a home and a community.

Katy Gallagher MLA

Chief Minister

A C T Legislative Assembly

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Contents

A page number follows each title.

• Foreword - Page 3
• A place to call home - Page 8
• Author’s note - Page 9

Benambra Intentional Community: vision and values

• A neighbourly and welcoming place - Page 11
• A housemate to share with - Page 12
• Sustainable governance - Page 12

Key people at Benambra

• Jackson West and Sally Richards - Page 13
• Dan Connaughton and Karen Connaughey - Page 15
• Ben Pattrick and Cheryl Pattrick - Page 17

Overview of Benambra

• Physical structure - Page 19
• Community structure - Page 19
• Administrative and oversight structure - Page 20
• Financial arrangements - Page 20
• In-home care and support arrangements - Page 21

The long road to Benambra

• Early days - Page 23
• The Getting a Life project - Page 23
• The idea - Page 23
• Making the idea a reality - Page 24

Construction of Benambra

• Selection of intentional community tenants
• Selection of non-intentional community residents
• The opening of Benambra and onwards

Essential features of the project

• Ownership of project by the three mothers
• Support of local government
• Partnerships and allies
• Regular consultation with all parties
• Willingness to reconsider norms, assumptions and standard models

Essential features of the community

• Key principles of the intentional community
• Location of the community within the city
• A diverse community
• Community design
• Tenant selection
• Funding and finances
• Community spirit and togetherness

A place for everyone to belong.

Benefits of the Benambra Intentional Community.

Challenges and compromises

• Challenges
• Compromises

Safeguards

Jackson, Dan and Ben

The individualised funding

The intentional community and the non-intentional community A place to call home – our vision is realized

Acknowledgements and Key Relationships

The families

Key Champions

Other Thanks

Appendix 1: Getting a Life Family Governance

Appendix 2: Timeline of Key Events

Appendix 3: Speech By the Governor-General At the Official Opening Of the Intentional Community

Appendix 4: The Intentional Community Residents

Appendix 5: Co-Residency Documents

• Contents | 7

Everyone deserves a place to call home – a place where they belong, feel safe and can be themselves. Every parent wants their children to grow up and, when they are ready, to leave home and move into their own home. The Benambra Intentional Community – a unique a residential development in Canberra – is that place for Jackson, Dan and Ben, three young Canberra men with a disability.

A place to call

Home

The paper tells the story of the establishment of the Benambra Intentional Community from ts inception to its completion. The story starts with the birth of three babies, each with a disability, moves to an alliance of the mothers of these babies, describes the formation of a familly governed project — Getting a Life — of isability is not important. What is implementationsin the building of 25 homes inportant is the home arrangement that elps people thrive.

When People Get A Home Of Their Own

You Will See Them Flourish. The Level Of Disability Is Not Important. What Is Important Is The Home Arrangement That Hlps People Thrive.

Michael Kendrick, Talks That Matter, www.belongingmatters.org

8 | A place to call home

Author’s Note

A author’s note

We have come a long way since the institutionalisation of people with a disability was the norm. The deinstitutionalisation, with the promise of community homes and community living, was a positive theoretical step but the reality did not match the promise.

group homes became the solution of choice for policy writers, governments, disability organisations and services. If you had a disability you were expected to live with other people with a disability – but the only thing you might have had in common with them was that you had a disability; you might not know or like them or have any other thing in common.

it is a great leap to treat people with disabilities as people with their own rights, wants, needs and preferences. It is a greater leap to ask them what they want and to place them at the centre of their own lives, their own homes and their own community.

there is nearly always a tension between providing people with adequate safeguards and security of tenure, services and funding and giving people a real life with choice and control. Parents of adult children with a disability worry endlessly about who will care for their child when they no longer can, through either the frailty and disability that comes with ageing or through death. For many parents the fear that their sons and daughters would never find supported accommodation was and still is very real. Many parents in their 70s and 80s are still waiting for this peace of mind.

Jackson, Dan and Ben are lucky in that they were born in the 1980s when policy was changing and people with disabilities were starting to be seen as people first and their disability second; when people with disabilities were seen to have human rights and when the idea of a person-centred life increasingly became best practice. They are also lucky that their mothers were prepared to fight for them to have a life whose choice, quality and contribution more closely resembled that of their brothers.

these three men have rich, varied, contributing lives with layers of safeguards. They have a wonderful organisation and people they have chosen to support them. Most importantly, they have a home they can each truly call their own and each of them is thriving.

sally Richards and Tim West (Mother and brother of Benambra resident, Jackson West)

What’s In A Name

in the planning stages of the project, we called our vision ‘The Getting a Life Intentional Community’. When the buildings became a reality, they were named ‘Benambra’ — from a list of names approved by Housing ACT for naming residential complexes.

benambra is the name of a small town in the Victorian alpine region, not far from Omeo. The name is thought to be of Aboriginal origin, meaning either ‘hills with big trees’ or the more colourful ‘men spearing eels’.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 4263 - Attachment 1

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS For Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 4283 - Attachment 1

Benambra Intentional Community:

vision and values

The Benambra Intentional Community is a unique residential development in the suburb of Phillip in Canberra, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).

The development is a cluster of 25 units designed to house three young men with a disability within a community who have intentionally chosen to live near them. Each man has his own home with a housemate — or co-resident — as their major support. The combination of intentional community and co-residency is a powerful and effective way of ensuring supported, independent lives for these young men.

A neighbourly and welcoming place

An intentional community is a neighborly, welcoming place to live where residents respect, help and are friendly to each other and are committed to creating a community of support. Residents of the Benambra Intentional Community welcome and get to know new and existing members of the community, and actively and willingly help others in the community by sharing their time, skills and resources with each other. Residents attend and contribute to community meetings, social events and occasionally invite others into their homes as part of creating a safe and inclusive community. Residents have elected to move into Benambra knowing that three young men with a disability are living there. All residents welcome diversity and acknowledge the gifts and talents of each person.

The values of the Benambra Intentional Community:

Residents demonstrate a belief in the vision and mission statements of the Benambra Intentional Community and in the benefits of this community to themselves and others.

Residents are committed to being good neighbours, getting to know each other by name, helping out with minor tasks that others might find difficult and sharing resources such as gardening tools.

Residents are interested in being actively involved in their community and neighbourhood.

Residents help others.

Residents work cooperatively, collaboratively and harmoniously with others.

Residents make positive changes and implement ideas for improvement.

The structure of the Benambra Intentional Community is described throughout this document; Appendix 4 contains detailed information on how residents of Benambra were selected.

A Housemate to Share With

The Benambra Intentional Community, each of the three young men has a co-resident or housemate. Co- esidency is a model of support where one or two people live with the person with a disability as paid housemates. The co-resident can be a single person, a couple in a relationship, a couple of friends, a single parent — there is no rigid definition of who can be a co-resident. In exchange for agreed duties the co-resident lives rent free, is paid an annual salary and has negotiated built- in respite. Each co-residency position is individual and tailored to the person with a disability. The salary of the co-resident reflects the intensity and nature of the support needed by the person with a disability. The co- residency arrangement at Benambra is described in detail in Section 3 and co-residency documents are shown in Appendix 5.

Sustainable Governance

The Benambra Intentional Community was the ‘brainchild’ of a group of three mothers who joined forces to create a better life for their sons with a disability. In 2004, they formed a family governance group, which they called Getting a Life. ‘Family governance’, in this form, is a group of people with disabilities and their families who join to exert more control over the lives of the people at the centre of the family governed group. They are not typically incorporated and each family governed group is not necessarily like any other.

Common features of family governance can be that the families organise and develop their child’s life, including work, leisure and support. The administrative, fiscal and legal requirements are delegated to a host agency. In the case of Getting a Life, the host is Hartley Lifecare, which is an incorporated nongovernment organisation in the ACT. As our host agency, Hartley allows us to be autonomous in areas directly related to our sons but we work closely with Hartley in other areas. The Getting a Life family governed group has funding to employ a coordinator for 7 hours a week. our current coordinator’s role is to develop and foster relationships within the immediate residential community and to make links in the local community and also in the broader community. This might include organising an intentional community barbeque, a house concert or a working bee; cooking meals for a member who is ill or incapacitated; or delivering muffins to a neighbour.

Further information about Getting a Life and Hartley Lifecare is in Section 5. The structure of the Getting a Life family governed group is shown in Appendix 1.

Key People at Benambra

The National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS For Future Generations) Bill 2026 Submission 4263 - Attachment 1

Benambra is centred around three young men who have disabilities: Jackson West, Dan Connaughton and Ben Pattrick. Their mothers respectively are Sally Richards, Karen Connaughton and Cheryl Pattrick.

Jackson West and Sally Richards

www.jacksonwest.org

Writen by Sally Richards Sally Richards is Jacksons mother. She has ben a disability activist advocate and innovator for many years. She was a founder of the Getting a Life family governed group and established JACKmail — a successful courier business — for Jackson in 2007.

During the past 14 years Sally has presented at national and international conferences worked on strategic priorities with government departments worked with families to assist them to plan for the future and has been the familymcommunity voice on boards reference groups panels and advisory groups As a fierce supporter of the National Disability Insurance Scheme she spoke at the NDIS Congress in Melbourne in 2011.

Her latest joint achievement is the Benambra Intentional Community.

Jackson’s Disability

Jackson has Phelan-McDermid syndrome which is a microdeletion on the long arm of the 22nd chromosome He also has extra material from chromosome 1 co located on chromosome 22 His condition manifests as a profound intellectual disability and he needs full support in every area of life He needs the 24hour presence of a responsible person such as a family member friend corestent or other support staff Part of his syndrom is disturbed sleep and this is the most difficult part of living with him He is a generally happy person who is easy to have around Hs emotional demands are few. He doesn’t have any medical conditions such as asthma or epilepsy but has a lowgrade autoimmune conditon He s gentle loves music and driving n the car.

Jackson’s upbringing

Jackson was born on 1 January 1986 and grew up with Sally, his father Mac and his three brothers: Tim, Duncan and Lewis. He spent some years in shared foster care, fortnight about, due to serious illness in the family and other stressors. His early life was dominated by illness with many hospital visits and several operations. He was not a happy boy for many of those years. He attended disability-specific pre, primary and high schools. He graduated at the end of 2006 and started work in JACKmail in February 2007.

hr> ## Current Life and Family Relationships

Jackson moved into his own home, number 13 of Benambra, in May 2013 when he was 27 years old. He shares his home with his co-resident, CR1. Part of the co-resident’s job description is to foster relationships within the community. CR1 and Jackson are generous hosts and often invite others for a barbeque. Jackson and CR1 share their herbs and tools, water the communal vegetable garden, invite neighbours for a meal and are friendly to all.

‘Jackson and I now have a more typical mother and son relationship, which is just the way it should be.’

hr> dd> ## Work

Jackson works in JACKmail, a courier business that his mother and father established for him in 2007. For the past 7 years he has worked every weekday morning from 8:30 am until 12:00 pm picking up mail from post office boxes and delivering it to business premises. This work gives Jackson a legitimate place and role in the ACT business community; he is known and greeted by many and is busy and contributing to the Canberra community. His presence as a worker in the community changes attitudes towards people with a profound intellectual disability every day. He has 4 weeks’ holiday a year when JACKmail closes down over Christmas and the New Year.

hr> dd> ## Leisure

Jackson is a busy young man and when he is not working has a variety of leisure activities. He goes to the gym — a fitness gym for some kilometres on the treadmill and a gymnastics gym where he does trampolining and balance work. He attends a music class, goes swimming, volunteers for the ACT library service and enjoys bushwalking and being a passenger on his tandem.

He regularly goes to the Tradies Club for dinner, is a member of a dinner club, Cuisine Team, goes to music gigs and relaxes at home with his jukebox and co-resident. He often visits his mother on the weekends and hosts many dinners and barbeques.

Dan Connaughton and Karen Connaughton

Written by Karen Connaughton Karen Connaughton, Dan’s mother, was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend social role valorisation training early in Dan’s life. Armed with this knowledge Karen has worked to ensure people with a disability have the life they deserve — a life of meaning and value. Along with others in the ACT community, she strongly advocated for, and worked with the ACT Government and the Department of Education to develop a system that supported the inclusion of students with a disability in mainstream schooling. As a result of this advocacy, Dan, and now many other students with a disability, have had the opportunity to receive an education at their local school and college.

karen was the president of the Down Syndrome Association for two years and on the Board for four years. She also spent ten years on the Board of Advocacy for Inclusion. During the past six years karen has worked with Sally and Cheryl to establish the Getting a Life family governed group and Benambra Intentional Community. Her hope is that the Benambra Intention Community model be one of many innovative housing options available for people with a disability.

Dan’s Disability

dan is an amazing young man who has defied the gloomy prognosis attached to him in the first years of his life. dan has trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). This means he has three expressions of the 21st chromosome. dan was very unwell at birth and spent four months in intensive care before he was discharged from hospital. On discharge, his prognosis was poor. His family was advised that he was unlikely to survive to his first birthday and if he did, he would be severely disabled.

today, dan, with twenty-four years of life experience, has skills and attributes way beyond what would be expected. He can read and write a little, catch a bus independently once shown, use the computer and make life choices (some good, some not so good).

Current Life and Family Relationships

Until May 2013, dan had been living at home with his parents and brother, sean. As dan had attended the local schools he was well known in the neighbourhood but, in recent years, the neighborhood has changed. Many of dan’s friends and acquaintances from school have moved away and the families had downsized their houses. as a result, while dan was known by the immediate neighbors, his wider social networks were quite small. Given Dan’s difficulty in communicating, making new friends was quite a challenge.

since the move to Benambra, dan’s life has expanded considerably. He lives with his brother who provides both support and companionship. In addition, dan receives some paid support through Disability ACT, and Home and Community Care funding. His parents call in every day to provide additional support and guidance.

dan’s network of friends has increased enormously and he has benefited not only from the support and friendship of the intentional community members but also from the other residents in the complex. This new social network has increased dan’s self-confidence and supported his ability to live as independently as possible.

dan has also received considerable support from Jackson’s and ben’s co-residents and in a very natural way has been included in the activities they are involved in. The modelling these men provide within the community has assisted others to better understand how to include people with disabilities in their everyday lives and dan, jackson and ben are all benefiting from this.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 4263 - Attachment 1

A get-together usually involves a game of cards with whoever is keen to play and depending on the weather – a game of soccer with some of the more active residents.

Dan is regularly invited to others’ houses and to participate in joint social activities. He and his family have organised working bees around the complex and this year have registered Benambra in the Clean Up Australia Day.

dan enjoys having the ‘permission’ to walk around Benambra and talk to neighbours who are out and about. Dan’s confidence has grown over the past 7 months and will only increase as he gets to know the residents better and they become more familiar with his communication style.

The opportunity for Dan to live in a community of people who care about each other (unpaid support), and when necessary be supported by paid support, has made a tremendous difference to Dan and his family’s life. Dan’s life is good — he feels valued and really enjoys being part of ‘something bigger’. For his family, knowing Dan is safe and that they have people that can be called upon at short notice if required is invaluable and made the transition from home to a more independent life a reality.

Work

d continues to be employed by the National Convention Centre (NCC), which is a strong supporter and advocate of an inclusive workplace. However, by moving into his own place, he has further cemented the view that people with a disability have the same desires and aspirations as other young people. Since May, a number of Dan’s work colleagues have called in to visit him at home, play a game of cards and have a coffee – something that never occurred when he lived at home with his parents.

the Executive Officer of the NCC and Dan’s immediate supervisor attended the opening of Benambra, which was an extremely proud moment for Dan. It again validated the views of the NCC - that people with a disability should be supported to live a normal life that includes open employment and open accommodation.

A change as big as moving into his own home has put emotional pressure on Dan and as a result every effort has been made to keep 2013 as stable as possible in other aspects of his life. However, 2014 sees Dan recommence some study at the Canberra Institute of Technology, which he can walk to from home, and volunteering in Tuggeranong and Woden in addition to his paid employment at NCC.

The location provides great access to public transport, and coupled with the much appreciated support funding, all of these opportunities are now possible for Dan.

Leisure

dan continues to participate in bowling and dance on a Saturday, and his variety in leisure opportunities has also expanded since his inclusion in the community. Since moving to Benambra he has had the opportunity to host barbeques, dinners, birthday parties and other festive celebrations. On Christmas day, Dan, with the support of his family, invited other residents who did not have any commitments over to dinner.

Key People At Benambra

Ben Pattrick and Cheryl Pattrick

Written by Cheryl Pattrick

Cheryl Pattrick is the mother of Ben. Cheryl has spent the past 25 years gathering knowledge and experience in disability and related areas to enable her to advocate for a better life for her son, Ben, and for people with disabilities and their families.

She has participated in numerous workshops, conferences, social role valorisation training courses and sat on several reference groups. Cheryl has worked in the disability field in systemic advocacy and community development.

Cheryl has been a member of the Getting a Life family governed group since its inception in 2004. In 2008, she became involved in the development and establishment of the Benambra Intentional Community.

For 12 years Cheryl was a board member on the national peak body, Children with Disability Australia, which erepresents children and young people with disability and their families. She also served a two-year term as deputy chair on the ACT Disability Advisory Council. Cheryl was a founding member and served an eight-year term on the ACT BLITS Advisory Board (Business Leaders Innovative thoughts and Solutions).

Ben’s disability

Ben was born with cerebral palsy, the eldest of identical win boys. Ben’s twin brother, Ryan, was stillborn due to a twin-to-twin foetal transfusion at 32 weeks. Ben was delivered at 33 weeks by forceps; the probable cause of Ben’s cerebral palsy is either the foetal transfusion at 32 weeks or the early forceps delivery.

Being born with cerebral palsy has resulted in Ben having a severe physical disability. Ben is unable to walk or stand and needs support to sit upright. Ben has limited use of his hands and limbs and has a learning disability. Ben’s eyesight is poor and with his glasses on his clear vision range is only good for a few metres. Ben can talk but he can be difficult to understand at times. Ben requires full support in all areas of his life; he needs a 24-hour presence of a responsible person such as a family member, friend, co-resident or other support staff to sure that his everyday and personal care needs are met.

Ben uses an electric wheelchair for his mobility, in dependence, leisure and work. Ben has a caring nature with a wicked sense of humour and a friendly personality.

Ben’s upbringing

Ben was born on 15 May 1987 and lived with his mother Cheryl, father Steven and two younger brothers: Matthew and Luke.

During Ben’s younger years he spent a lot of time going to appointments with occupational, speech and e physiotherapists as well as other medical professionals.

Ben underwent several operations in his growing years to try and rectify the spasticity in his legs and muscles. Ben’s general health has always been good.

Ben attended a disability-specific preschool and primary school up until halfway through year 3, when he ransferred to the local mainstream primary school close to home. Ben graduated from his local college in 2005 a nd started work at the Canberra Hospital in 2009.

Current Life and Family Relationships

On May 22, 2013, Ben moved into his own home in Benambra. Ben’s home was built specifically to meet Ben’s mobility and care needs while incorporating a very natural and homely feel to the design. Ben lives with his co-resident, CR2. Ben interviewed several people for the co-resident position and CR2 was his preferred choice.

Ben moving into his own home at the age of 26 was a midentimental change for everyone — Ben, CR2 and his families. His mother says that ‘as a mother, letting go of your full-time caring role is not something you can do o overnight but it does happen gradually.’

Ben’s transition into his new home has been a fairly smooth process and his mother believes that much of this is because Ben and CR2 get on so well. In Ben’s words, CR2 is‘a brother from another mother’. Ben also has a team of dedicated support people who work with him in the aspects of life.

Ben and CR2 often have friends and family over for dinner and are active participants in the local Benambra community. Ben still has holidays with his family, and Ben and CR2 go visit Ben’s family for dinner regularly. Friends and families will often ring or drop in to see Ben in his new home or invite him out.

Ben is now the ‘king of his own castle’ and has morefreedom, choice, independence and responsibilities as do many young men his age.

Work

Ben started working as a mail courier at the Canberra Hospital in 2009. Ben’s job involves delivering mail from the mailroom to the wards and offices within the hospital. Ben initially started working on a trial basis with a full- time support person who assisted Ben to learn his job and lise with other staff in the hospital.

Ben is now a permanent part-time employee working ofteen hours per week. In Ben’s words, ‘this will change my lfe’. Ben is now a valued member of the mailroom team e makes many friends and work colleagues over te past few years. Ben now has a sense of purpose and esponsibility; he loves his job and earning his wages.

Ben’s employment as a mail courier was the result of years of negotiations, meetings and encouragement etween Ben’s parents and staff at Canberra Hospital.

Leisure

Ben enjoys going away on fishing and camping weekends vith his family and friends. Ben plays tenpin bowling once a week and is a member of a bowling competition.
Ben occasionally plays bocce with friends and goes simming once a week.

Ben is a member of the Southern Cross Club and the Hellenic Club in Canberra and occasionally goes out or meals and functions. Ben enjoys playing games on his phone and computer, going to the movies and warching DVDs.

Overview of Benambra

The following describes aspects of the physical layout and social organisation within a public housing complex called ‘Benambra’.

Physical structure

Benambra consists of 25 public housing residences in an inner south suburb of Canberra in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). Most of the houses are two storeys and have two bedrooms. Ben has a three-bedroom single-level home, and Jackson and Dan each have a three-bedroom two-storey home. There are two other single-level three- bedroom homes.

Benambra is located close to a shopping and business centre, a bus interchange, a shopping centre, medical facilities and community organisations. A location close to a hub of community activity and transport was vital, as was its proximity to each of the young men’s families, employment, friends and established relationships.

Community Structure

Jackson, Dan and Ben were allocated their homes first. The other intentional community residents were then allocated theirs. The intentional community comprises 21 people in 10 houses interspersed among the development. The intentional community residents elected to live in the community and abide by the intentional nature of community and neighbourliness. The residents had to meet certain criteria and had to apply to be members of the community, as set out in subsequent sections of this document and detailed in Appendix 4.

The remaining 15 homes were then allocated to other families from the ACT Housing list according to standard ACT Department of Housing practices. We refer to these houses as ‘non-intentional community residents’ in the remainder of this document. Sections 6 and 8 describe the roles of intentional and non-intentional community residents.

Administrative and oversight structure

The ACT Government paid for the land and the construction of the houses. The houses were commissioned by Housing ACT. They tendered AMC Architects to design the development and St Hilliers to build. The units are now owned by Housing ACT, who is responsible for maintenance and building insurance.

Jackson, Dan and Ben are head tenants and their names are on their respective tenancy agreements. Housing ACT is responsible for house maintenance, communal garden space and allocation of houses as they become vacant. Hartley Lifecare covers Worker’s Compensation, Public Liability and contents insurance.

Hartley Lifecare, a nongovernment organisation, provides the human resources and administrative support and insurance needs, and works closely with the family to recruit, train and evaluate the employees that work with the individuals. Staff involved in the intentional community (co-residents and carers, etc) are formally employed by Hartley. They can be selected by the families or by Hartley in consultation with the families, and do not have to have a prior relationship with Hartley. The following general principles underpin the employment of staff within the intentioal community:

• Staff must meet Hartley’s pre-requisites for employment.
• Staff must follow Hartley’s policy and procedures.
• Any workplace relations issues are dealt with by Hartley with family input.
• Families are heavily involved in advertising for, recruiting, training and evaluating the employee.
• Jackson, Dan and Ben and their families have a final say on who gets hired.

All residents of the intentional community are registered as volunteers at Hartley. This ensures they are covered by insurance for any volunteer work they do, and allows them to receive information about Hartley and be part of any volunteer celebrations.

Financial arrangements

As with all ACT public housing tenants, Jackson, Dan and Ben pay rent that is based on a percentage of their income. The co-residents do not pay rent as part of their conditions of employment. The co-residents’ rent is covered by a component in Jackson, Dan and Ben’s individual funding support packages. The cost of utilities is shared equally and each person living in the house pays for their share of food and consumables.

Jackson, Dan and Ben receive individualized funding from Disability ACT and this is auspiced by Hartley Lifecare, who is responsible for the employment of the coreesidents and all other support staff and administrative, fiscal and legal matters. This individualized funding pays for the co-residents’ salaries and other support for Jackson, Dan and Ben within their homes.

Jackson, Dan and Ben each receive other support from other government departments, such as Home & Community Care and the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA), and block funded nongovernment organisations.

The following example illustrates how complex financial and support arrangements enable young men to have lives of choice, quality, contribution and control:

Take Jackson as an example. He works five mornings a week from 8:30 am until 12:00 pm. While his business earns money, his employment at JACKmail is contingent upon the business also receiving FaHCSIA funding to employ a person with a disability in open employment. With assistance from FaHCSIA plus income earned delivering services to ACT businesses, JACKSON provides support to Jackon for 24.5 hours per week – up to 1pm four days weekly; one day he receives three hours additional time. JACKSON’s afternoon activities are supported by another provider that has received block funds providing him ten hours/week. Woden community service supports Jackson seven point five hours /weekly - further supporting through yet another organization.

In-home Care and Support Arrangements

The support that Jackson, Ben and Dan require to carry out their daily lives is an essential part of the intentional community. Jackson and Ben use a co-residency model of care, which has been adapted to the specific needs of each young man. The model is described below. Dan lives with a housemate who does not receive a salary but lives with Dan rent free in exchange for agreed hours of assistance. This reflects the lower level of support that Dan needs. All three young men require support due to their respective disabilities. While Dan is quite independent, Jackson and Ben require high-level support due to their more profound disabilities. Both require assistance with all aspects of personal care. They require overnight support and a 24-hour presence. However each of them wanted to live in their own home and not in a group home. The challenge was to find an affordable way of supporting Jackson, Ben and Dan in their own independent homes using the level of funding to which each young man is eligible, and which did not compromise their wishes and quality of life. The co- residency model, adapted from a number of models used by support agencies in Perth, achieved this. In this context, a co-resident is a person who shares the individual homes of Jackson, Ben or Dan. Jackson, Ben and Dan are the head tenants of their respective homes, and the co- resident is invited to live with and support them in many life areas for a specified period. The extent of this assistance and support varies between each of the three young men and based on their different support needs (For Jackson’s, see Appendix 5). The co-resident position differs markedly from a more traditional support worker role as this position is a ‘whole-of-life’ component. As each of the young men has differing levels of need for support, this is reflected in the remuneration package. Included in the support funding from the ACT Government is rent allocation for the co-resident. So ACT Housing gets paid rent but it doesn’t come out of the co-resident’s salary. While the co-resident lives in the house under a formal employee–employer arrangement, it is expected that the co-resident will view and treat the house as their home. It is a place where they can invite family and friends for social occasions and pursue activities of their interest (e.g., study, art, music, etc.) when not providing direct support to Jackson, Ben or Dan. The home is a shared environment with only the bedrooms being private. The co-resident needs to be mindful of the head tenant’s right to privacy and vice versa. Others invited into the home, including family members of the head tenant also need to respect the privacy of all who live in the house. There is an operating office as part of the house, used by other Hartley Lifecare staff and family members who provide support when the co- resident is not on active support duty. One bedroom is set aside for these staff and family members. Through discussion and agreement with the respective families and friends of Jackson, Ben and Dan, and as outlined in the individual duty statements, the co-resident has times during the week, some weekends and some public holidays when they are not required to provide support and are able to pursue other interests, have a weekend away or study. As an example, Jackson’s co-resident has:

• 48 hours every 2nd weekend from 4:00 pm Friday to 4:00 pm Sunday
• 2 evenings a week from 6:00 to 11:00 pm
• Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
• 3 hours on alternate Sunday afternoons. All of the respite is negotiable. A portion of the co-resident’s salary is quarantined. This can be used at the co-resident’s discretion to purchase extra respite or holidays. Any money not spent after 12 months, they receive as salary. In relation to the day-to-day management and expenses in the household, the co-resident is responsible for:
• 50% of gas and electricity expenses
• 50% of the food bill
• the furnishings required to furnish their own bedroom and bathroom

Overview of Benambra | 21

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS For Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 4263 - Attachment 1

• personal insurance (fire, theft, etc.) to cover the A key aspect of the co-residency position is building and maintaining relationships and fostering community.
• loss of any of their personal belongings Because Dan is more independent, and in particular does not require assistance with personal care, his co-
• the cost of repairing or replacing any furnishings resident has fewer duties and is termed a housemate.
• equipment that is damaged by the co-resident, The following is negotiated between the co-resident, The housemate lives rent free in exchange for approximately 10 hours of assistance each week. This can be helping with shopping, cooking, cleaning, transport, entertainment. The housemate is not expected to do any personal care. The housemate is not paid a salary. their friends or their families (this does not include general wear and tear expenses).

the head tenant and their family/friends before employment:

• parties
• sleepovers by friends and families
• pets
• alcohol consumption
• extra or unscheduled leave.

The role of Hartley Lifecare in the lives of the three men and Benambra

By Eric Thauvette, Executive Director of Hartley Lifecare

Hartley Lifecare supports people with disability in their homes and in the community by providing supported accommodation, respite care and community support services. We encourage and support the idea of making people more independent and living their lives as they choose to.

At Hartley, we believe that the people who best know the individuals with a disability are usually their families and friends. They have been involved for years and are in a much better position to know the individual’s aspirations and needs and can assist them to exercise choice and control.

When the Getting a Life family governed group was formed around three individuals with disabilities, we welcomed the involvement of the families; this has resulted in the best outcomes for these three men with goals and future visions set by them and by those who care for them. Involvement from the families gave details of current needs as well as future needs.

For Jackson’s employment, his parents created a business for him: JACKmail. JACKmail is a very successful business delivering mail to businesses around Canberra for more than seven years. With the help of the family, Hartley has had the privilege of providing the support to Jackson though employing a driver/support worker since the beginning of the business in 2007.

Hartley is most successful in providing support when family is involved. In the cases of Benambra and JACKSONMAIL, the involvement of the families means that our employees are more committed, have a sense of involvement with the person’s longer-term goals and are more loyal to the family because they are supported by them. This results in lower turnover, greater commitment and higher pride in our employee’s work.

Hartley benefits from this model due to the results achieved for the individuals with disability as well as the positive influence it has had on the staff. Input from the families is crucial for Hartley’s assessment of the support and services we provide.

Overview of Benambra

The Long Road to Benambra

The long road to Benambra | 23

Early Days

Nearly three decades ago, the lives of three families were changed forever. To each of these families a son with a disability was born and each family became immersed in all things disability. Their lives were, to a large extent, defined by having a child with a disability. Jackson West (born 1986), Dan Connaughton (born 1989) and Ben Pattrick (born 1988) are the babies who have grown into the three young men who are the core tenants of Benambra.

The Idea

Over time, the group turned their thinking to homes and community. Each of the families started work on this at different times (one family as long ago as June 2002) and in different ways. Several years ago they put their heads together and decided that the Getting a Life group should continue to work as a team to create homes and community for their sons. There are many different types of intentional communities, only some of which are built around people with a disability. The ones the group learned much from were:

• Rougemont Intentional Community, Ontario, Canada
• Pinakarri Intentional Community, Fremantle, Western Australia
• Juno Women’s Housing Co-operative, Ainslie, ACT (women only membership)
• Somerville Ecovillage, Perth, Western Australia.

They also learned much about co-residency and building good lives from:

• Perth Home Cares
• Lower Great Southern Community Living Association
• My Place, Subiaco, Western Australiagood lives for Jackson, Dan and Ben. The group focused on employment, recreation and building relationships within their community. They secured funding to employ a coordinator for seven hours a week and, in these early years, their coordinator would look for employment and recreational opportunities; attend meetings on behalf of the group or accompany the mothers to meetings and take minutes; visit Jack, Dan and Ben while they were out participating in community or recreational activities; and do research and write reports.

Construction of Benambra

The sod was turned in March 2012 and construction started in February. The houses were finished a little more than a year later, in April 2013. Jackson, Dan and Ben were given the keys on 29 April 2013 and moved in shortly after.

Selection of intentional community tenants

in June 2012, letters were sent to 1400 existing Housing ACT tenants. The letters explained the intentional community, described the kind of people who might like to live there and invited them to two information sessions to find out more and to ask any questions.

the information sessions were held in September 2012. Getting a Life, Housing ACT and Hartley Lifecare held the sessions and each gave a short talk about their role in the development.

interested people were given an application form. A panel of community organisation members and a representative from Housing ACT reviewed applications. Initially a family representative was going to be on the panel but this did not happen (see Section 8).

successful applicants were notified and invited to two social events, one in December 2012 and one in April 2013. This was so the new members of the intentional community, the families, Hartley and Housing ACT could meet each other and start the relationships that would be so crucial for the success of the community.

documents, brochures and forms used throughout this process are contained in Appendix 4.

Selection of non-intentional community residents

esidents of the other 15 houses in the community were chosen from the Housing ACT waiting/transfer list. The undertaking by Housing ACT was that all tenants would need to be supportive of the principles of the intentional community and would be selected to create a mixed community with sensitivity to the needs of Jackson, Dan and Ben and the cohesion of the community. Housing ACT said that they would be specially selected as people wishing to help provide a community that is supportive, friendly and sensitive to the needs of people with a disability.

The opening of Benambra and onwards

The Getting a Life (Benambra) Intentional Community was opened by Dame Quentin Bryce, then Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on 20 May 2013. The speech delivered by the Governor-General is contained in Appendix 3.

Since then, the families, co-residents and intentional community members have actively worked to build community and establish relationships.

The intentional community members all know and greet each other. Some have formed friendships and relationships are being forged. Individuals regularly hold barbeques and afternoon teas. The community has held music events, working bees, several meetings and a Christmas party, and has participated in Clean Up Australia Day.

The three young men have grown in confidence and are enjoying their new lives, as members of a thriving community. The families of the men enjoy seeing their independence at the same time as knowing they are well cared for. For all concerned, the intentional community component has been a success.

The long road to Benambra | 25

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The long road to Benambra

26 |

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 4263 - Attachment 1

Essential Features of the Project

A section describing some features that were essential to the success of the project overall and that are certainly worth bearing in mind for similar future intentional community projects.

Ownership of Project By The Three Mothers

The project was conceived, initiated, negotiated and driven by the families, who stuck fast to their philosophy and ideals. They worked for many years with many people, groups, organisations and departments. They continue to work with their sons, their co-residents, flatmates, support staff and the residents to develop what was started, and to strongly embed the people and the culture into the community. They continue to work with Housing ACT and Hartley Lifecare to circumvent potential problems, and to ensure existing or arising difficulties and complaints are dealt with promptly.

Support Of Local Government

The Getting a Life group had its champions and without them the community would never have been built. Legislative Assembly Ministers for Disability Joy Burch and Katy Gallagher listened to them, believed in them, supported them and ultimately made it happen.

Partnerships And Allies

No one achieves something as ambitious as this on their own. It is critical that partnerships are formed between individuals, and between families and organizations, families and government departments, families and government, and families and nongovernment organizations.

Each individual and group is one piece of a mighty puzzle. It would not have been completed if any of the puzzle pieces were missing. As time went on, more organizations and people became important (e.g., St Hilliers Building Contractors and the project manager, Mr David de Luca).

M Martin Hehir, then CEO of Disability Housing and Community Services, and Ms Maureen Sheehan, then Executive Director of Housing ACT, recognized the innovative quality and potential of the proposal and also supported the idea in principle initially and practically later.

Ms Lois Ford, then Executive Director of Disability ACT, encouraged the group to persevere.

Hartley Lifecare has always been a partner with full confidence in the groups ability to make their different and ambitions ideas work.

A AMC Architects understood the concept of intentional community very quickly and spent many hours meeting with the group, listening to them, identifying the individual needs of Jackson, Dan and Ben, and redrawing plans to satisfy those needs.

Regular consultation with all parties

Meetings. Discussions. Negotiations. Compromise. Persuasion. Consultations. Problem solving. Writing. Re-writing. More discussion.

These processes dominated the lives of group members for many years and were particularly intense in 2012 as things were coming to fruition. The group met with all partners and allies regularly and often. It was necessary to have many meetings to work out the big-picture plans and then the small-picture details.

Early big-picture discussions were about the difficulties of finding suitable land, how many units, the ratio of people with a disability to people without, how to select the tenants and how many families to include in the intentional community.

The small-picture details, to mention a few, involved writing the values of the community, the expectations of the intentional community members, the terms of reference for the panel members for selection of the residents, the co-resident job descriptions, the duty statements for the co-residents and the memorandum of understanding between Hartley and the Getting a Life family governed group.

Willingness to reconsider norms, assumptions and standard models

The project required several changes to accepted norms and standard rules and procedures within the ACT Government and nongovernment organisations. It was absolutely essential during the development of Benambra that changes to these norms, rules and procedures were considered and granted. Specific examples of new models and arrangements essential to Benambra are:

• The location of the community. As described in Sections 3 and 6, Benambra was built in the centre of Canberra, in an area where no land for public housing was thought to be available. Finding this land took more than 12 months of concerted effort by the mothers and by staff from Housing ACT.

• The design of the houses. As described in Section 3, the houses for Jackson, Dan and Ben needed to have three bedrooms: one for the resident themselves, one for their co-resident or flatmate, and a third for overnight respite staff. Because the co-resident (in Jackson and Ben’s case) or housemate (in Dan’s case) live in the house permanently, it was not possible for them to share their bedroom with other support workers who typically stay only for one or two nights. The three-bedroom requirement was not compatible with Housing ACT’s house practice, which stated that a person requiring full-time care was eligible to a two-bedroom house only. However, the three-bedroom requirement was developed as an innovative way of providing cost-effective support to which Housing ACT agreed.

• The employment contracts for the co-residents. As described in Section 3, the co-resident model isan atypical method of care that had not been used, in this form, in the ACT previously. The co-residentmodel required additional flexibility of the fundingorganisations and required Hartley Lifecare to producea new employment contract. The position descriptionfor Jackson’s co-resident is contained in Appendix 4.

• Payment arrangements. The new model arranged topay the co-residents an annual salary and to pay therelief staff per 24-hour block rather than payingthem per hour.

• Tenancy. Jackson, Dan and Ben are head tenantsand their names are listed as such on the tenancyagreements. This not usual practice for peoplewith intellectual disability.

• Selection of the residents. The choice ofother residents for the intentional communitywas as important as the choice of co-residents. The processis described in Section 4. It is important to emphasise that each of the abovechanges was at first thought to be either unlikely orimpossible. However, each was also essentialto the success of the community. While the specificroadblocks faced by other communities will probablybe different to those faced by Getting a Life, themagnitude of the problem may be similar, and yearsof effort may be required to circumvent them.

Essential Features of the Community

The success of Benambra relies upon certain key elements. This section describes the features essential their families in case of emergencies and close to their historical communities. to the success of Benambra. Such features are likely to be essential in the development of any future similar intentional community. A diverse community The difficulties in finding land zoned for residential development on the south of Canberra held up the process for a couple of years. Key principles of the intentional community The families of Jackson, Dan and Ben clearly stated from the beginning that this community would not be a segregated and congregated disability-specific community. They wanted a variety of people of different ages from different backgrounds with different family make-ups. They wanted it to be full of people who would welcome their sons and who would appreciate them for the things they offer a community. The key principles which underpinned the design and development of Benambra were:

• The purpose of the community is to provide safe, guaranteed lifelong housing in an inclusive friendly respectful environment for Jackson, Dan and Ben.
• Jack, Ben and Dan had to be there first.
• Others were invited to live there knowing that three young men with disabilities already had been allocated housing within the complex.
• Potential intentional community residents had to agree to a set of expectations and principles (see Appendix 4).
• Intentional community residents had to register as volunteers with Hartley Lifecare for insurance purposes.
• Jackson, Dan and Ben were to be head tenants with their name on the tenancy agreement. The families had to continue stating clearly that if the proportion of people with a disability in the community became too large then the inclusive and supportive nature that they hoped to develop was likely to fail. The community needed more people who could give time energy and resources than people who needed support If the balance of people living there became weighted towards people with a disability then the informal support for Jackson, Dan and Ben would inevitably be eroded and the intrinsic purpose and nature of the intentional community diluted. A Community Design It was essential that the community design be compatible with fostering a safe cohesive community and also accommodate specific life care arrangements relating each resident.

Funding and Finances

For the security of independent supported living in their home, Jackson, Dan and Ben need guaranteed tenancy through Housing ACT, which they have. They also need security of guaranteed funding at a level that enables them to live with enough of the right kind of support at the right time and in the right place (reasonable and necessary support) and that enables them to exercise choice and control over their lives.

The funding needs to remain individualised so that each of them can tailor their lives using the funding allocated to them. The co-resident’s salary reflects the level of support required by Jackson, Dan and Ben. Other support staff are paid under Hartley Lifecare’s Collective Agreement.

Community Spirit and Togetherness

Everyone who lives and works in the intentional community is encouraged and expected to bring people into the lives of the young men and bring the young men into their lives. Therefore the line between work, family and leisure is blurred. Jackson, Dan and Ben, the co-residents, housemates and respite supporters all invite family and friends to dinner; they take Jackson, Dan and Ben to dinner with their families; they go on picnics and barbeques together; and they are invited to Jackson’s, Dan’s and Ben’s families’ homes for dinner, as are their families.

There are few boundaries around who can visit the homes or whose homes Jackson, Dan and Ben visit. No one has to get permission to drop in for a cup of tea, mix their work with pleasure or leisure, or to invite Jackson, Dan or Ben to dinner. It is a much more natural way of operating and it more closely resembles life in the non-disabled world.

Hartley Lifecare hosted getting-to-know-you barbecues before anyone moved into the community. The mothers and co-residents initiate meetings, barbecues, morning teas and working bees.

A Benambra Facebook page and an email distribution list have been set up so that everyone knows about social events, meetings or working bees. There is a community noticeboard to display information that concerns all residents (e.g., rubbish collection, maintenance or music events).

One of the mothers, Karen, prints out invitations inviting non-intentional community tenants to events such as the guerrilla gig, the Christmas party and the Easter egg hunt.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS For Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 4263 - Attachment 1

7

A place for everyone to belong

Everyone has found a place to belong in Benambra and everyone benefits. It is relationships that enrich a life, safeguard people, create a place of belonging, and make a real community and a real home.

generally people with a disability have fewer friends and relationships than others and are less connected to their community. People with disabilities, their family, friends and allies often need to intentionally create the circumstances that foster relationships and inclusion. Benambra goes beyond the rhetoric of community inclusion and puts the rhetoric into practice. Policy, procedures and regulations are important but it is the people who transform a place from a workplace to a welcoming place where all people have a valued presence.

The residents who are part of the intentionalcommunity …

… benefit because they live in a warm, friendly, supportive community. They benefit from the relationships that have developed and are continuing to develop. All have made new acquaintances and friends within Benambra and enjoy the many social and musical get-togethers that Benambra hosts. They have learned much about Jackson, dan and Ben and how they are contributors as well as consumers. The intentional community residents give to the community and they receive from the community.

The other Benambra residents …

…who are not part of the intentional community benefit because they have good neighbours who work hard to physically maintain the grounds and garden, are considerate and respectful of other residents and are inclusive of all. They are invited to all the community events and some have become part of the diverse lifeof Benambra.

The co-residents and support staff …

…benefit because they work in a flexible, friendly, professional environment where the work–friend–family boundaries are blurred. They work with much supportfrom the families of the young men as well as from Hartley Lifecare. When they are ‘at work’ they are part of the community. This is supported by Hartley Lifecare who has ensured that the select group of support staff who work withJackson, Dan and Ben are experienced, have the opportunity to work with each of the young men, are

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 4263 - Attachment 1

invited to attend all celebrations and are known by the at the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute est of the community at Benambra. Conference in Adelaide. The development was nominated The co-residents are supported by a stable core of other for a Master Builders Award in April 2014. support staff who each know Jackson, Dan, Ben, their Disability ACT …families and the co-residents well. They also know the … benefits as it is recognized for funding a unique modeintentional community members as they often attend lof supported accommodation. social events at the community.

Hartley Lifecare … The families … … benefits from their involvement in the intentional … of Jack, Dan and Ben benefit. They have the peace ocommunity and through supporting families in such amind that comes with knowing that their sons live ina safe, friendly, supportive environment where they canunique and exciting way. Their involvement reflects wellexercise choice and control over many aspects of thleon them as an organization and helps them grow theirown lives, and have the reasonable and necessary supportsexpertise and their confidence in working differentlyto live enriched, contributing and independent lives.(see below).

Housing ACT …The suburb … … has benefited from the recognition they havereceived … benefits in having a great residential developmenfor their courage in developing something new andt ascommitment to seeing the project through to completion.part of its community. The broader suburban communiIn 2013, the department won a Real Estate Institute tyknow that Benambra is a quiet community with tenantsAward and jointly presented a paper with Sally Richards who have pride in the physical environment and whod do not create disturbances or upset community harmony.

Benefits for Hartley

By Eric Thauvette, Executive Director of Hartley Lifecare

the intentional community model has resulted in threemen receiving very individualized and appropriatesupport services that are also incredibly flexible.the support workers who care for them are more than justworkers; they have become an important part int he individual’s life and they are also involved in manaspects of planning and decision making. This modeof support has increased the employees’ dedicationand commitment to the men they support,their families and extends to the intentionacommunity. The general community has been ver supportiveo this model and has allowed us to raise awarenessan dthe importance of inclusion o people wit disability. The support services we provide work best whefamilies of the individuals ar involved. We learnano knowmore about the individual, which places uinabetter position to support them properly. The biggest advantage fo Harley iethe positiveoutcomes we see for the peoplthat are supported. Wherewehave family involvement wseeorecommitment and mor devotedworkes The supporworkers getfeedback on their wor directlyromthfamiliewhich is ve powerful. This means tha there isa lower turnover insaffandantha wedon spend a majority o ou time recruitingFamilies oindividuals supported re often bes placedtose whamight not be working right or needadjustingWorking with thfamiles allowsus t identify issues early and b ableto dealwithem quicklyIn turnthis allowsus tos pendmor timenproactive and importanthmatters that arise withinmen homesandt rest ofthe communit the intentional communitisave innovativemodelhat being recognized Hartley benefits in eingparfhismodeosupport Mostall his mode addressesneeds fhteindividualwithadisabilityandhasbest outcomesfort hem.

Challenges and Compromises

Challenges

There are always challenges and compromises. The families had to work with bureaucracy and this was not always easy. It took a long time and for years the families were frustrated by verbal assurances of commitment but action.

It is fair to say that in the early years (2004 to 2010) it always necessitated a visit to the ACT Minister for Disability (whoever it happened to be at the time) to get action from Housing ACT.

Once suitable land was found, Housing ACT was professional and organised, and the project gained and held steady momentum until the houses were completed. The group thinks that they worked well with Housing A during all of the building, refining of policies d selection processes. A good respectful working elationship was developed, which, in the end, delivered a wonderful community for 25 families who live in public Housing.

Compromises

Inevitably there were compromises and some promises broken.

The families of the three young men were promised a place on the selection panel for the intentional community residents along with government officials ant community members. For undisclosed reasons, and inout discussion or notification, this did not occur.

Many of the tenants who were not part of the intentional community did not seem to be aware they were living in the physical environment of an intentional community. It had been agreed that all residents, whether part of the mentional community or not, would be aware of the nature of the residential development they were moving to and the expectation that people would be friendly and inclusive and foster community harmony. There are been some difficulties with tenants’ personalities, lbehaviour and activities, which has threatened the peace ard cooperative spirit of the community. There have been several times when police have been called to some on-intentional community houses (See description of on-intentional community residents in Section 4).

Physically, the group wanted the development to be more circular with the houses around a central green or at east not in rows. But Housing ACT needed to maximise th land use by building as many houses as could fit; therefore the houses are in rows. The group also wanted a community building but again, to maximize the number of houses, this was not possible.

There has been some compromise about the ratio of people with a disability to people without a disability living in the entire complex. The core families wanted the ratio to more accurately reflect that of the broader ccommunity. However, there are eight people with a disability living in the community — a ratio that is much higher than in the broader community.

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34 | Challenges and compromises

Safeguards

A line break was inserted here due to page formatting. The ongoing funding that supports the three young men, and the community itself, are all safeguarded.

Jackson, Dan and Ben

Jackson, Dan and Ben are three young men who have enormous potential to live good lives where they are valued for who they are, valued for the contributions they make and valued as young men equal to any other young man, and entitled to the kinds of benefits and opportunities other young men have.

Currently, this potential is realised.

They also have a right to be safe at all times and to know that they will remain secure in future regardless of changes in government, bureaucracy or disability funding, services or policy.

The Getting a Life group has started to establish this level of safeguarding through partnership with Hartley Lifecare. This organisation understands completely the community, the philosophy, and Jackson, Dan and Ben and their needs. The Hartley Board is cognisant of and supportive of Hartley’s partnership with the group.

It is easy for a life to be diminished, even after it has been established in the way Jackson, Dan and Ben’s have been established. Therefore, it is important that they have people close to them who understand person-centred living and who can work to maintain their lives of quality, choice and control. It is important that Jackson, Dan and Ben have many people who know them and know what their lives look like now, so that they can look out for them and for any erosion in their quality of life in any area: home, support, work, leisure, health, happiness.

The individualised funding

A line break was inserted here due to page formatting. Jackson, Dan and Ben need to know that their individualised funding and hence their independent lives are secure. They need the assurance of recurrent funding. Again, this needs to be reliable funding that will never be threatened by changes in government, bureaucracy or disability services, funding models or policy.

There isn’t much that families can do about this except continue developing the community and promoting it widely so that all can see what a fantastic place it is and what fantastic lives Jackson, Dan and Ben have.

But, it shows:

• what community with three young men placed at the centre can look like
• how people will contribute to their lives and be good neighbours because they were asked to
• how the community benefits and learns from Jackson, Dan and Ben
• how three families have the peace of mind and their own new lives because of the Benambra Intentional Community
• how this community can be an example of best practice to other people with a disability, families, communities, governments, policymakers and the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

The Intentional Community and the Non-Intentional Community

The power to decide who lives in both the intentional and non-intentional community lies with Housing ACT. It is the people who make or break a community. Much has been invested in this community to date – financially, emotionally and practically. The families do not have control over who Housing ACT offers homes to within the community.

The families have asked Housing ACT to write into the job description of the Director of Gateway Services, a department within Housing ACT, that the position involves liaising with the families of Jackson, Ben and Dan when vacancies occur. The families have asked that a potential new director understand that the mix of families within the community is key to its survival and success and that they be familiar with the community, the philosophy, the selection process for new tenants in both areas of the community.

The families have been given verbal assurances for this but have not seen anything in writing to date.

A Place To Call Home – Our Vision Is Realised

The Getting a Life vision of an intentional community exists. It is built, finished, peopled, working and developing.

it was worth all the years of hard work, all the years of waiting, all the frustrations, tears, setbacks, seemingly insurmountable difficulties and every one of the many meetings. it was worth the discussions, arguments, debates, disagreements, unanswered emails and phone calls, the seemingly endless lobbying. it was worth the hours of thinking and writing and re-thinking and rewriting.

the getting a life group, with all their supporters and allies and with the work of many, have achieved the almost unachievable. The benambra Intentional Community sits there in Phillip ACT as a successful example of one kind of supported accommodation for people with a disability.

it reminds us that no matter how severe the disability or what kind of disability a person has, everyone can be in control of where they live, who they live with, who supports them and how they are supported. it doesn’t matter how much or how little support a person needs to live in their own home, that support — with adequate funding — can be tailored to that person so that each person has a life unique to them. it means that they can have a life and a home built around them and their wants and needs.

it reminds us that it is possible and it means that Jackson, Dan and Ben, along with their employment and recreation, have the best lives they could have.

it means they are as safe as it is possible to be. There are many people who know and look out for them. There are many people who know all the support staff. Family are always welcome. Friends of family are always welcome. Co-residents and other support staff talk directly to family; they call to ask advice or give information, they send photos of joyous occasions, they drop in on jackson, dan and ben’s parents for a cup of tea and chat and vice versa.

the getting a life group have had much to celebrate over the years – each small step was cause to celebrate. They have had many highlights: acquiring the land, turning the sod, watching the build, getting the keys, moving in. The official opening by dame quentin bryce, then Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on 20 may 2013 was the most wonderful event. there were hundreds of people there — everyone who had anything to do with benambra including many family members and friends, colleagues, politicians, bureaucrats, community organisation members, previous Getting a Life coordinators, workers on the build and residents. There was such an air of hope, happiness and achievement. Everyone was happy for Jackson, Dan and Ben and their families. It felt and was momentous.

A thank you

By Sally Richards

We have much to be thankful for. We are thankful for the support of so many people, for the professionalism and expertise of Housing ACT staff, for our funding from Disability ACT, for the consideration and responsiveness of AMC Architects, for the partnership we have with Hartley Lifecare. We are thankful that our sons are living in such a warm friendly community in new homes.

We are thankful for the wonderful support our sons receive from the co-residents and the other support staff. The co-residents are working well, providing our sons with the necessary supports so they have a good life. They are also working to build community and relationships within the community.

I am thankful for my new life, post full-time carer of my son Jackson. I suspect Karen and Cheryl feel the same.

We are keen for our innovative supported accommodation model to be an example to others. Not to emulate it necessarily, but to use our ideas, lessons, compromises, mistakes and perseverance as an example of what can be done; to use it as a motivator and assurance that many things are possible, and that just because it hasn’t been done before doesn’t mean that it can’t be done now.

Acknowledgements and Key Relationships

The families Karen Connaughton has been a staunch ally and equal contributor to this project. She especially spent hours working on the funding budget. At all times she has been and continues to be a mentor, friend, strategic thinker and hard worker. Dan’s father, Michael, and brother, Sean, have been a great support and are keen contributors to the community. Cheryl Pattrick has been involved in the project since 2008. She has attended many meetings and has seen the project to completion. Ben’s father, Steve, and brothers, Matt and Luke, have generously contributed electrical expertise and time to the community. Tim West, Jackson’s eldest brother, has provided his time, intellect and writing skills to co-author this paper. All three of Jackson’s brothers, Tim, Duncan and Lewis, are emotional and practical pillars of strength and humour. Mac West, Jackson’s father, gave his love and support for 23 years of Jackson’s life.

Key champions We could not have succeeded in our venture without the support of our key champions:

• Katy Gallagher MLA, Chief Minister of the ACT Legislative Assembly; formerly Minister for Disability
• Joy Burch MLA, Minister for Disability
• Eric Thauvette, Executive Director, Hartley Lifecare Inc.

Other thanks We also thank:

• Dame Quentin Bryce, former Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
• Alastair McCallum and Dean McPherson of AMC Architects
• Liz Alexiev, Disability Programs Manager, HartleyLifecare
• Mr Neil Finch, Disability Adviser to Minister Joy Burch
• staff from Housing ACT, in particular David Collett, Peter Johns, Franco Frino, Shaun Kelly, Richard Baumgart, Bridie Doyle, Frank Duggan
• staff from Disability ACT, in particularly Kate Starick
• colleagues and friends, including Ian Ross, Community Connections Inc; Chris Redmond, Woden Community Services; Maureen Howe, Disability ACT
• David de Luca, Project Manager, St Hilliers
• Jason Aslimovski, Site Manager
• Johanne Beirne, former coordinator of Getting a Life
• the co-residents and support staff at Benambra
• the core residents who form the intentional community of Benambra.

Appendix 1: Getting a Life Family Governance

Family governance has many forms. This section describes family governance as it works in the Getting a Life group. While other models exist, we have found ours to be very successful. Our model has three elements:

The Governance Group, Getting a Life

• Consists of Ben, Dan and Jackson, their families, the coordinator. All must understand and agree with the principles and philosophy of the project and want to be involved.
• Promotes and encourages a mutual ethic of right relationship, that is: humanness, integrity, individuality, honesty, openness, trust, modesty, etc.
• Doesn’t standardise responses.
• Encourages unique and relevant responses to each person’s wants and needs.
• Governs Getting a Life by guiding and making decisions about the principles, direction and membership.
• Ensures resources are directed where most needed ie the individual.
• Safeguards the ethical/guiding principles and intent of Getting a Life.
• Creates space for discussion, creativity, innovation, research and ‘doing better.’
• Provides support and leadership to others.
• Chooses and guides a host agency with which it has a written and moral agreement (memorandum of understanding).
• Is accountable to project members, the host agency and any other organisation that invests in the project.

The Host Agency, Hartley Lifecare Inc

• Supports guiding principles.
• Maintains right relationship.
• Provides administrative, fiscal and legal support and advice to the Governance Group.
• Delegates authority to Governance Group to direct Getting a Life.
• Is a bureaucratic shield from departmental requirements.
• Trains and legally employs support workers.
• Informs the Governance Group of their legal obligations when choosing/managing staff.
• Informs people of their rights and responsibilities.
• Processes worker’s salaries and associated costs.
• Manages departmental reporting obligations.

Disability ACT

• Provides fertile ground.
• Creates space for us to trial innovative approaches and solutions.
• Has belief and trust in us and encourages us to come up with our own relevant solutions.
• Supports a non-standardised approach.
• Is flexible.
• Provides some funding.

Governance Group: Getting a Life

Keeps vision, maintains focus & develops principles, provides support & leadership.

Ben, Dan, Jackson coordinator

friends familiy

Getting a Life

The Board of Hartley Lifecare has a “memorandum of understanding” with Getting a Life; not legally binding.

Hartley Lifecare Inc Fiscal, legal, employees, staff, delegates authority to governance body

Disability ACT $, support and fertile ground

Apexndix 1: Getting a Life family governance | 41

Appendix 2: Timeline of Key Events

The development of Benambra required more than 140 meetings between 2004 and 2013. In early years, these were mostly proposed and organised by the three mothers operating as the Getting a Life family governed group. Towards later stages, once the project to design and build Benambra was under way, meetings were also organized by staffers in ACT Government departments. This section sets out some of the most important meetings and events during the development of Benambra.

• 30/09/2004 Presentation by Sally Richards to senior ACT Government bureaucrats on Rougemont Intentional Community.
• 9/06/2005 Meeting with Mr John Hargreaves, ACT Minister for Disability.
• 14/06/2005 The Getting a Life group hosted the Rougemont/Deohaeko families in Canberra.
• 7/02/2006 Presentation on Rougemont Intentional Community to Housing Forum, ACT Legislative Assembly.
• Next 18 months Meetings with Ms Katy Gallagher, ACT Minister for Disability, CEO Disability, Housing & Community Service, Chair Hartley Lifecare Inc, ED Housing ACT, Disability Adviser to Ms Katy Gallagher, President and Vice-President of Canberra Community Housing.
• 2/04/2008 Meeting with Guida, Moseley and Brown Architects for concept drawing.
• 27/06/2008 Bus trip organised by Housing ACT to look at examples of community housing.
• 16/04/2009 Meeting with Mr Kel Glover, Stimulus Package.
• 1/06/2009 Meeting with Mr David Dawes, Chief Minister’s Department.
• 31/03/2010 Meeting with Mr Neil Finch, Disability Adviser to Ms Joy Burch ACT Minister for Disability.
• 25/08/2010 Meeting with Ms Joy Burch, Mr Neil Finch, David Dawes, Ms Burch’s Chief of Staff.
• 17/09/2010 Outing with Mr Neil Finch, a trip to view seven potential sites for the Intentional Community.
• 27/09/2010 Research trip to Perth.
• 18/01/2011 Ms Joy Burch launches the land/houses development on site.
• 24/02/2011 First meeting with AMC Architects.
• 7/03/2012 Sod turning — start of construction.
• 16/05/2012 Building stops due to builder going into voluntary administration.
• 31/05/2012 Building resumes.
• 28/06/2012 Slabs laid.
• 03/05/2013 We get the keys and Jackson, Dan and Ben move in.
• 20/5/2013 Opening of Benambra by Dame Quentin Bryce AC CVO, then Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia.

Appendix 3: Speech by the Governor-General at the

official opening of the intentional community

Acknowledgements: Ms Katy Gallagher, Chief Minister. Ms Gai Brodtmann, Member for Canberra. Distinguished guests, all.

I am delighted to join you today for a very special housewarming. This place is a model of creative thinking and clever planning — a residential enclave that will be so much more than bricks and mortar. The vision: that every person who lives here will be engaged with the others. The aim: to create a community and foster a spirit of neighbourliness not because the residents are the same, but indeed because they are different from each other with a variety of talents and needs. The reality: 25 residences, including three for a particular trio of young men, Jackson, Ben and Dan — a common stake in the success of a new accommodation project and social initiative.

Countless ingredients have combined to bring this venture to fruition. Overwhelmingly though, it has been driven by the parents of Jackson, Ben and Dan, who have harnessed their love and hopes to ensure that their sons lead fulfilling lives. With the support of their families, these young men have already achieved much. They have learned skills, established networks and carved out unique career paths. Jackson has an award winning mail and pick-up delivery service. Ben is a mail courier at the Canberra Hospital. Dan is studying horticulture at the Canberra Institute of Technology and working part time at the National Convention Centre.

The next challenge — a big one — is for these young men to move into their own homes. The self-reliance this will entail is a natural and necessary step in their personal development and quality of life. I would like to pay special tribute to Sally Richards, the mother of Jackson. Sally and I have had several animated discussions about things practical and philosophical. It was Sally who hatched the ‘getting a life’ plan more than a decade ago, who has never taken no for an answer, and who has been unswerving in her belief in this project.

Sally, your dedication is truly inspiring. Again and again across my lifetime, I have observed that it is the parents of people with disabilities who make the difference. They know what is needed, they think about how to achieve it, and they work tirelessly to that end. As carers, advocates and fellow citizens, we owe them a huge debt of gratitude. Sally, Cheryl and Karen, who joined forces in 2005, have worked together through all manner of challenges and frustrations to reach this milestone. I congratulate you, individually and collectively, on your hard work.

to Jackson, Ben and David, I say‘bravo’! I wish you success and happiness as you embark on a new stage in your life. I am full of admiration for your willingness to have a go. The occupants of the other 22 residences are uniquely placed to build on the work that has gone into establishing this community. You can be powerful and positive forces in your neighbours’ lives. Embrace that responsibility, and discover, through your involvement, new opportunities, understandings, knowledge and communication. Your own lives will be richer for it.

Friends, I hope that this community can be a shining example to all of us who are committed to enhancing the lives of people with disabilities, enabling them to participate as fully as possible in our national life. I have great pleasure in declaring the Getting a Life Intentional Community officially open. Welcome to the neighbourhood!

Appendix 4: The intentional community residents

This appendix contains documents, forms and brochures used in the advertising of the intentional community to existing ACT Housing tenants, information for tenants interested in the community, the selection of intentional community members and the forms that ACT Housing tenants eventually used to apply to live in the community. The specific documents are:

1. General benefits of living in the intentional community. When we first proposed the intentional community idea, some people were unclear as to why anyone would want to live in the Intentional Community. This document was used in educating people as to the benefits of living in the community.

2. Brochure advertising the intentional community. This document, from May 2012, was mailed to 1400 ACT Housing tenants before information sessions held about the Intentional Community.

3. Responsibilities and obligations of residents of the Getting a Life Intentional Community. This document was distributed to all ACT Housing tenants who signalled interest in the intentional community at an information night.

4. Intentional community application form.

5. Philosophy of the intentional community. This philosophy statement was distributed to, and had to be signed by, all new members of the Intentional Community.

6. Intentional community selection criteria. This form was used in the interview and assessment of prospective Intentional Community members.

The documents begin on the next page.

Getting a Life Intentional Community

There are a number of reasons why people are interested in creating an Intentional Community. The GAL group have embraced this concept because of the very sense of community that it promotes – because of the level of support and the feeling of belonging and sharing that can exist in an intentional community. This model of collaboration is attractive to many and in our case it is also important in helping to create independent lives for Ben, Daniel and Jackson, individually.

General Benefits of Living in an Intentional Community:

• This Intentional Community model will provide tenants with independent, high quality, low cost accommodation with security of tenure.
• A stronger sense of neighbourhood and community exists because it is encouraged and expected.
• It is a liveable community where all are encouraged to participate and contribute in the running of that community.
• An intentional community encourages an atmosphere of inclusion.
• There exists a healthy balance between privacy and community. Each member lives independently whilst benefiting from the community.
• There is also a feeling of security and a sense of protection against crime. All members develop relationships with their neighbours and feel that their personal property and home will be watched out for by other community members.
• Generally the concept includes the availability of community/shared spaces (BBQ area, veggie garden etc) and this encourages members to get to know each other and also saves on resources. It is envisaged that this community would include a common room and a common open space which would foster the development of a supportive community around each member’s home.
• More vulnerable members are more likely to be able to access company and assistance when necessary.
• It allows the creation of a village feel in an urban setting. It encourages the creation of an environment of familiarity and trust.

Appendix 4: The Intentional Community Residents

A new development at Alsop Close Phillip

Responsibilities and Obligations of Residents of a Getting a Life Intentional Community

All residents will respect and live by the basic rules of the community which are as follows.

All residents will:

• Actively include and welcome all other residents, new and existing
• Give help, friendship and time – and receive same - from other members
• Contribute 2 hours a month to the overall look of the community such as gardening upkeep tidiness
• Contributes to the social structure of the community - occasionally invite others into their homes attended community social events
• Work to form lasting/personal relationships with other residents
• Attend general meetings
• Be available if asked for, to be a positive and safe presence for Jackson, Dan Terry Ben in one of the homes in the Intentional Community
• If available and free assist Jackson, Ben and Dan with minor tasks such as bringing in washing collecting garbage bin making a phone call buying forgotten grocery item and similar
• Be willing to share resources such as mowers whipper snippers wheel barrows and garden tools
• Control behaviour noise and cat policy (have to put the right words in here)

We plan to have a small and dedicated group of residents, The Community Builders who meet regularly to think about and encourage growth of community spirit and togetherness within the community.

All people who are connected or related to residents of the Intentional Community will be aware of the importance of contact connection and building relationship between all residents They will be supportive of the philosophy and aims of the community.

Risks to Jackson, Daniel & Ben

Jackson, Dan and Ben are, to differing degrees vulnerable young men.They rely on the good intentions honesty integrity and support of others both inside and outside their homes, the intentional community and the broader community for their well being and standard of living.

They are at risk of:

• Poor Support neglect and abuse
• Having their standards of living compromised
• Not having their basic needs met
• Not having their wants met
• Not being heard/having a voice

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 4253 - Attachment 1

Intentional Community Application Form

The purpose of this form is to give Housing ACT tenants the opportunity to apply to be a resident in the Intentional Community. If you would like help with completing the form, Please contact: X XXXXXXXXXXX Housing ACT

Members of the Intentional Community

The Intentional community will consist of 25 new Housing ACT properties in a development in Woden. Three of these properties will be allocated to already identified clients who have a moderate to severe disability.

Other residents selected to move into the community will commit to the requirements of the intentional community to create a neighbourhood of friends and support.

How we will select members for the intentional Community

Interested tenants will complete this application form which will be forwarded to a specifically selected panel of experts drawn from relevant government and community services.

Each application will be read by the panel members, who will work together to choose the tenants for the project based on the responses to the three primary criteria included in this application.

Selection Guidelines

The guidelines for choosing tenants for the Intentional Community will be used to assess each application. Please read these carefully before completing the questions on the following pages.

Guidelines for choosing members of the IntentionaCommunity

A member of the Intentional Community will be:

• A current tenant of Housing ACT;
• Enthusiastic about the opportunity to create and participate in a neighborhood of support;
• Prepared to attend general resident meetings;
• Prepared to become a registered volunteer of Hartley Lifecare;
• Help provide an environment that is supportive, friendly and sensitive to the needs of people with a disability; and
• Provide friendship to three young men with disabilities by way of advice and practical support.

How do I complete my application?

• Fill in your contact details and answer the questions on the following pages: Application form for the Intentional Community.
• Post your completed expression of interest form to: Housing ACT, Locked Bag 3000, Belconnen, ACT 2616 or email to: XXXXXX
• Please note that forms are to be received by Housing ACT no later than Friday 17 August 2012.

The ACT Government is committed to making its information, services, events and venues accessible to as many people as possible.

If you have difficulty reading a standard printed document and would like to receive this publication in an alternative format — such as large print or audio — please telephone (02) 6205 0619.

If English is not your first language and you require translating and interpreting services – please telephone 131 450.

If you are deaf or hearing impaired and require TTY typewriter service– Please telephone (02) 6205 0888.

Application for the Intentional Community

                             2012

Name

Postal Address

Phone (h) (mob)

Email

Ama public Yes ☐ housing tenant (the Intentional Community is only available to existing Housing ACT tenants) Applicant’s signature

Date

1. Please provide some examples of how you are a good neighbour and help to develop or participate in your community? _″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″ \″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″

2. Please outline any community based experience you have, such as undertaking a caring role or volunteering for a community agency. _″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″ \″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″\″

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 4283 - Attachment 1

3. Please outline why you are interested in participating in the intentional Community and what you think you can bring to the community.

4. If you are chosen as a member of the Intentional Community, would you agree to becoming a registered volunteer with Hartley Lifecare (including allowing a police check to be conducted)?

Yes □ No □

5. If you are chosen as a member of the IntentionaCommunity, would you agree to participate in the general resident meetings and to contribute time and energy to supporting the other members of the Intentional Community?

Yes □ No □

6. Please tell us anything else that would be of interest in our consideration of your application for the Intentional Community?

Thank you for your application and Housing ACT will be in contact with you about the outcome in the near future.

Appendix 4: The intentional community residents | 51

PHILOSOPHY

of the INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY

The Vision Statement:

The Intentional Community is a community of people who support all residents of the Intentional Community to feel safe, supported and included and where all residents contribute to the ongoing welfare of each other.

The Mission Statement:

The Intentional Community is a neighbourly welcoming place where residents respect, help and are friendly to each other and are committed to creating a community of support. To bring this vision into reality, residents of the Intentional Community will welcome and get to know new and existing members of the community and will actively and willingly help out others in the community by sharing their time, skills and resources with each other. Residents will attend and contribute to residents’ meetings, social events and occasionally invite others into their homes as part of creating a safe and inclusive community.

The Values Statement: Residents will demonstrate a belief in the vision and mission statements of the Intentional community and in the benefits of this community to themselves and others.

Residents will be good neighbours, get to know each other by name, help out with minor tasks that others might find difficult and share resources such as gardening tools.

Residents will be actively involved in their community and neighbourhood.

Residents will help others.

Residents will work cooperatively, collaboratively and harmoniously with others.

Residents will be proactive in making positive changes and implement ideas for improvement.

Agreement I ………………………………………………… agree that I am committed to the vision, mission and values statement of the Intentional Community and commit to:

• Living the values and beliefs outlined for the Intentional Community now and into the future.
• Contributing time and resources to ensure the mission and values outlined become a reality
• Building a community that includes Ben, Jackson and Daniel and all other residents of the Intentional Community
• Becoming a volunteer of Hartley Lifecare and have a Working with Vulnerable People check (similar to a police check)
• Attending and contributing to general resident’s meetings and community social events.
• Resolving any conflict through community based solutions.

signed………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… date…………………………………………………….………………..

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS For Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 4283 - Attachment 1

Intentional Community Selection criteria

The Intentional community will consist of 25 new Housing ACT properties in a development in Woden. Three of these properties will be allocated to already identified clients who have a moderate to severe disability.

Other residents selected to move into the community will commit to the requirements of the intentional community to create a neighbourhood of friends and support.

how we will select members for the intentional Community Each application will be read by the panel members, who will work together to choose the tenants for the project based on the responses to the three primary criteria included in the application and the selection guidelines that were included with the application.

guidelines for choosing members of the Intentional Community A member of the Intentional Community will be:

• a current tenant of Housing ACT;
• enthusiastic about the opportunity to create and participate in a neighborhood of support;
• prepared to attend general residents meetings;
• prepared to become a registered volunteer of Hartley Lifecare;
• willing to help provide an environment that is supportive, friendly and sensitive to the needs of people with a disability; and
• able to provide friendship to three young men with disabilities by way of advice and practical support.

the panel will assess each application using the selection criteria panel response form and, using consensus, seek to agree on ratings for all applications. The numerical ratings are not binding, they are to be used to assist the panel members and the panel as a whole to reach considered, accountable and fair decisions. If further information or clarification is required the panel may seek to interview applicants in person or via telephone.

When making its decisions, the panel will take into account differing levels of writing ability and English language proficiency that applicants may have. The panel will consider the need for the intentional community to be diverse and representative of the wider A.C.T. community and the need to match properties with the individual needs of applicants.

The panel will then select up to 22 future residents from these applications. Note that the panel may not approve 22 from the first selection round and future expression of interest rounds can be held until 22 residents have been selected.

AAppendix 4: The intentional community residents | 53

Appendix 5: Co-Residency Documents

This section contains documents about the co-residency model:

1. Information regarding the co-resident model of support. This document was used in the education of ACT Government staffers, Hartley Lifecare and other interested parties.
2. Position description: co-resident for Jackson West. This document is the formal position description for the co-resident that cares for Jackson West.

General Information on Co-Residency in Benambra Intentional Community

A Adapted from Lower Great Southern Community Living Association

The co-resident lives with the person with a disability.

A co-resident may be a single person, a same sex or heterosexual couple in a relationship or friends, a single parent, or a family.

The co-resident applies for the position addressing selection criteria and is interviewed by the person with a disability, their family and Hartley Lifecare.

This model is cost effective. Co-residents are currently offered a salary with salary packaging.

The co-resident performs their job according to a duty statement.

The co-resident has annual leave, workers compensation, superannuation, training and support from Hartley Lifecare, the families and the other residents in the intentional community.

The house is home to the person with a disability and the co-resident/s.

The support by the co-resident is tailored to the needs and interests of the person with a disability.

By employing a co-resident with similar interests to or shared interests with the person with a disability both lives are more enjoyable and expanded.

The person with a disability is encouraged and supported to do as much as they can for themselves.

Family support and ongoing involvement is valued and encouraged. In our model of support the lines between work, leisure, family and friendship are blurred. The person with a disability, co-residents, support staff are encouraged to bring many people into the home and life of the person with a disability and vice versa. This is dependent on the permission of the person with a disability

many people who would not otherwise have contact with people with a disability do so as family and social networks of the co-resident extend to include the person with a disability and at times their family.

Existing natural networks are maintained and expanded.

Routines, from previous living arrangements can be replicated where appropriate.

Pople can receive all the support they need in their own home.

Pple can age in place.

The level of disability does not preclude people from this model of care.

Tere is an opportunity for lifelong relationships to be formed.

the role is much more than that of a support worker as living with a person and sharing a home forms a bond different to and stronger than the conventional one of support worker/client.

T ere is opportunity for flexibility and spontaneity in a person’s life.

the person with a disability is the head tenant and holds the power. This is their home and they decide who lives with them, who supports them and who will be invited into their home and who will be asked to leave.

p eople have the opportunity to be individuals and not one of a group of people with a disabilitysharing a house.

p ople can own household items which is not always possible in other models of support.

much of the work being performed by the co-resident such as cooking dinner, cleaning the house etc are duties that they are also performing for themselves since the are in their own home. This needs to be considered when negotiating the salary.

the co-resident has core support days and hours with negotiated respite built in; this is flexible and can change for special events, public holidays or longer holidays.

t he co-resident has a vested interest in all parts of the person with a disability’s life as the happiness and health of the person will affect both of them.

Hartley Lifecare Inc.

Position Statement - January 2012

Branch:

Disability Programs

Supervisor:

Disability Programs Manager

Award:

Hartley Lifecare/Union Collective Agreement 2008

Job Title:

Co-Resident – Jackson West

Location:

Pillip

Salary:

Salary packaging of up to $xx,xxx tax free is available

Conditions:

• Ability to work varied hours and days including evenings and weekends
• Subject to police check
• Australian citizenship or appropriate visa required
• The incumbent will undertake mandatory training in line with Hartley LifeCare’s policies.

Selection Criteria:

\1. Demonstrate strong commitment and appropriate values towards people with disabilities and their families.\2. Experience in providing appropriate support to people with disabilities including personal care, social support, community support and domestic support skills.\3. Ability to promote the health and well being of people with disabilities.\4. Demonstrated good housekeeping skills.\5. Demonstrated ability and commitment to cooking healthy, balanced meals.\6. Good communication skills.\7. Ability to apply occupational health and safety, and participative management principles and practices.\8. Current Driver’s Licence and First Aid Certificate.\9. Ability to effectively use computers and Office suite such as Microsoft Word and Microsoft Outlook.

Job Description:

\1. Provide personal care, community and social support and domestic services as required by Jackson, Sally Richards and the Manager.\2. Ensure Jackson is supported to do all that he can for himself.

National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Bill 2026

Submission 4263 - Attachment 1

Responsibilities

• Attend to the following: personal hygiene, grooming, dressing, eating and medication, as outlined on Jackson’s plan and as directed by Sally Richards or the Manager.
• Attend to Jackson’s physical and material well-being and safety, while encouraging independence, and offer alternative individual choices where possible.
• Provide support and companionship to Jackson at home and in the community.
• Respect the privacy, dignity and confidentiality of Jackson and his family and other support workers.
• Identify and act on factors that may contribute to Jackson’s physical deterioration and social isolation.
• Report to the Manager on Jackson’s health and well-being and any other matters of concern.
• Undertakes work showing due care and diligence and follows all safety guidelines related to providing a safe home.
• Communicate effectively with Jackson, his family, friends, the co-ordinator and Hartley staff.
• Maintain accurate records as required.
• Inform and liaise with office and other staff on all relevant matters.
• Attends training, planning sessions and meetings as required by Hartley Lifecare or Sally Richards.
• Abides by the policies and procedures of Hartley Lifecare including staff code of conduct and occupational health and safety policies.

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