{"id":1970,"date":"2025-07-17T03:21:52","date_gmt":"2025-07-16T17:21:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.downsyndrome.org.au\/voice\/?p=1970"},"modified":"2025-07-17T03:31:13","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T17:31:13","slug":"it-feels-like-paradise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.downsyndrome.org.au\/voice\/2025\/07\/17\/it-feels-like-paradise\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cIt feels like paradise\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\u201cIt feels like paradise<\/strong>\u201d <\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Pip\u2019s journey to independent living<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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When Pip moved into her new apartment, she felt something she hadn\u2019t felt in a long time: complete freedom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cIt feels like it\u2019s my freedom. I can do whatever I want! I like watching movies in the loungeroom and just relaxing in my own space. It\u2019s the best feeling in the world.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Pip is one of many adults with Down syndrome taking bold steps toward independence. After an 18-month wait, she moved into a beautifully designed, socially connected apartment block developed by Nightingale\u2014a community-first housing initiative. Her story is one of pride, resilience, and the deep joy of living life on her own terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From dream to reality<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pip\u2019s journey to independent living wasn\u2019t an overnight decision. While waiting for her new home, she rented a small apartment and lived with housemates. Pip was more than ready to say goodbye to both family and housemates and say hello to living on her own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the lead-up, Nightingale made sure all future residents were part of the process. Pip and her family attended regular meetings and even had the chance to watch the demolition of the old factory that once stood on the site. On opening night, they took part in a powerful smoking ceremony led by the Traditional Custodians of the land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe got to know our neighbours before moving in,\u201d Pip says. \u201cThey\u2019re all friendly and lovely. I love getting to know them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Life on her terms<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For Pip, independence means more than just a set of keys. \u201cIt means I can mingle with my neighbours, make my own choices and meet new people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEach day is like a blank canvas,\u201d Pip says poetically. \u201cWhen I wake up, I add colour to it with every activity I do and everywhere I go. Then at night when I go to bed, the canvas goes blank, ready for a new day.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pip works at PowerCor as a connections officer and spends her free time writing songs and spending time with her partner and neighbours. Recently she helped out as a runner on her neighbour\u2019s short film. \u201cIt\u2019s like a little family in our building,\u201d she says. \u201cWe have events all the time that get posted on the Community Notice Board downstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Support and strength<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While Pip lives independently, she\u2019s not alone. She receives support from her parents and a few support workers. A family friend helps with cleaning once a fortnight, and Pip independently budgets and organises her meals for the week. \u201cI do a meal plan, send it to Mum and then on Fridays my support worker and I do the grocery shopping together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current cost of living crisis is affecting many Australians. Pip says she understands the importance of managing money and making a plan. \u201cIf you want to live by yourself, make sure you talk to your parents about what you want. Communication is important. Be honest about your life and how you feel. It\u2019s hard at first and money is always needed but if you have the support you can do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learning and growth<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Like all of us, Pip has had a few learning moments. One in particular stands out. \u201cI wrapped a bowl in foil and put it in the microwave. It turned into a fire! I didn\u2019t know foil couldn\u2019t go in the microwave. It was scary but my neighbours helped me! I got a new microwave and I\u2019ll never do that again.\u201d Despite the mishap, Pip\u2019s pride in how far she\u2019s come is clear. \u201cI\u2019m proud of being able to do activities I want to do, make my own choices and catch public transport on my own.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A place to call home<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When asked what she\u2019d say to the people who build Community Housing, Pip doesn\u2019t hesitate. \u201cI see people living on the streets. Sitting in front of grocery storesin the cold. They don\u2019t have a home, they don\u2019t have anywhere to go. Everyone deserves a place to call home. It\u2019s important people have a home so they can feel safe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pip says she hopes to stay in her apartment \u201cfor a very long time 100%\u201d and that the memory of her first night \u201cfelt like paradise.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Final words<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pip\u2019s story is a powerful reminder that independence is not just about where you live. It\u2019s about dignity, choice and belonging. In the face of long waitlists and growing housing pressure, she stands as proof of what\u2019s possible when community, support and determination come together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pip\u2019s journey to independent living<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1973,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"648,856,868,986,1382,1483","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1970","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.downsyndrome.org.au\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1970","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.downsyndrome.org.au\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.downsyndrome.org.au\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.downsyndrome.org.au\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.downsyndrome.org.au\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1970"}],"version-history":[{"count":12,"href":"https:\/\/www.downsyndrome.org.au\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1970\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1986,"href":"https:\/\/www.downsyndrome.org.au\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1970\/revisions\/1986"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.downsyndrome.org.au\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1973"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.downsyndrome.org.au\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1970"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.downsyndrome.org.au\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1970"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.downsyndrome.org.au\/voice\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}