Finding stability and independence through local area coordination

Alana Beattie, a 38-year-old woman living in the Campbelltown area of Sydney, has made remarkable progress in her personal life over the past six years with the help of her local area coordinator (LAC).

Alana’s condition, a rare genetic disorder known as pseudohypoparathyroidism, means that her mobility is severely affected, as her muscles tend to become stiff and cramp up.  General movement, and interactions with public transport above all, can become complicated and dangerous, should her balance be compromised.

“I need supervision when I travel due to my condition,” Alana said. She mentions that this need for assistance is compounded by her obstructive sleep apnea, which can lead to health risks if she falls asleep in uncomfortable positions.

Alana’s supervision needs were exacerbated when she found herself in an emergency housing situation and in desperate need of a more stable option. For several years, Alana was informally supported by her parents, both in terms of accommodation and decision-making. When those supports broke down earlier this year, Alana was quickly left fearing for her living situation and running out of options.

With the help of her LAC, she was able to move into a short-term accommodation and assistance (STA) option, and after gathering enough evidence to meet the requirements, was finally approved to progress to supported independent living (SIL) accommodation in June.

“I was feeling really anxious because my housing situation was uncertain,” says Alana.

“But I was excited to finally make the move [to SIL] so that I could be around other people and make new friends.”

The social aspect of her accommodation is a crucial reason why Alana feels so grateful for her relationship with her LAC.

“I’m in a really good position to move forward and begin healing,” she said.

The steadiness of SIL accommodation allows Alana to focus on her hobbies, which includes maintaining several fulfilling pen pal relationships with friends overseas. She’s also an avid West Tigers fan and enjoys travelling with her ‘girls group’ when she can.

Without the support of an SSI local area coordinator on behalf of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), it’s possible that Alana would never have been able to secure her current living arrangement and live life as comfortably and meaningfully as she can now.

Alana sees a bright future for herself and is already setting new goals with her LAC.

“I want to keep healthy and motivated,” she said, indicating that continuing to participate in her wellness program will be the key to staying on top of her condition.

With all the recent changes going on in her life, Alana also wants to learn to be more adaptable. With the personalised sense of care and guidance an LAC can offer, Alana will no doubt be able to surmount any obstacle and celebrate every accomplishment that comes her way.

Learn about SSI’s range of disability services on our website. You can contact our local area coordination team at:

Phone: 1800 960 975 

Email: ssilac@ndis.gov.au