When housemates click

Georgia Knoll lives in a commission house with Tom. She tells us what she loves about the relationship and what her experiences of group housing have been like over the years.

Tell us where you live and who you live with

I live in commission house and I love living with Tom and I am supported by Unique Directions. I live in Andergrove in Mackay.

How did you come to meet Tom?

I went to Tom’s 20th party with my family, because Tom’s mum Wendy was friends with my mum. So Wendy’s like, meet my boy, and I relaxed with him. It was a fun party and we danced and stuff and had a bit of a wild night party. That’s how we met.

So was Tom living with his parents at the time?

Yeah he was. I was living independently from my mum, but with another company.

Oh right! How long have you lived independently?

From when I was 19. I lived with my ex-boyfriend. Mum turned the garage at the bottom of the garden into
a house for us. Then we broke up and I moved into a group housing with Megan and Peter, but with another company. And they weren’t great there because they were almost treating me like a princess.

They took over a lot of the tasks. It took over my whole life, so I didn’t get to use my skills because they did everything in the house.

So this was a group housing company that was too involved in your daily living?

Yeah. They had healthy guidelines that were off the charts because they didn’t understand how I eat as
a small person, but then made me a big plate every time, too much. So my health was not good there, and I didn’t feel good.

Then mum said, would you like to live with Tom? And I went, yes, please.

Tom’s house was already set up. He already had a housemate at the time but she went back to her mum’s, which then left space for me.

And how long have you been there now?

Maybe 7, 8 years.

So what works about you and Tom? Why is that a good living arrangement?

Well, because he’s quieter and I like his hummings. He’s nonverbal. He’s got a good sense of humour. We just click.

What do you think are important lessons for living with someone else? What makes a good flatmate?

Well, a good flatmate shares jobs. I do the washing up and Tom dries. We respect each other and look after one another.

Sometimes we cook pizza, sometimes we cook biscuits, some salads and stuff. My favourite would be Spaghetti Bolognese. We cook together and share meals.

Beautiful. Why do you like living independently?

I like it because it makes me busy. Washing, cleaning, everything I have to do.

Sometimes my support worker has to prompt me. I got four support workers at the house that do a roster.

I like the feeling in the house. I have my own art space. There’s lots of different rooms for everything.

What do you think Tom likes about you as a flatmate?

Oh, he loves me. Tom is a home bird, completely home on his computer. I get Tom out and he loves it when he’s there and he’ll join in and have a ball. I can tell he likes me. I’m like his big sister.

He’s lucky to have you! How do you pay your bills?

I work at Coffee Club. I have to pay my rent, the bills, meds. Sometimes there’s nothing left over. When there is, I like to spend it.

What a nice life you’ve created for yourself, Georgia.

Yes and I’m famous. I’ve been telling my story on social media. I was spotted on the TV, on Sunrise, with one of my clips.

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