We welcome residents and guests for NDIS supported independent living and respite.
Having an ABI, TBI, cerebral palsy, or another disability is only part of their identity.
Every I Am Here resident and guest staying or living in our respite and supported independent living homes in Newcastle is a unique individual. They all have their own personal interests, talents, ambitions, and dreams. And each has a special, sometimes surprising, story to share.
I am Carol
Carol is a lover of life, embracing everything from dancing to crafting, cooking, and learning everything new.
She has lived at I Am Here permanently since 2018, and is the first supported independent living (SIL) resident to call our new shared housing property at 6 Isabella Close home.
She has a beautiful, caring nature that captivates everyone who works with her. While we never play favourites, it’s fair to say that Carol is one of the most loved I Am Here family members, always greeting everyone with a warm, welcoming smile.
But while she’s a gentle soul, she’s also very independent and not afraid to speak her mind when needed.
Carol is a very social person. She enjoys friendly banter with those who care for her and immerses herself in life, getting out and about in the community, shopping, going to the movies and having her hair and nails done regularly.
She’s a performer who loves to dance and sing karaoke. She also has a penchant for horror films, watching them at every opportunity in her own suite, cuddled up beside her beautiful dolls and Georgia, her cat!
Carol adores her little granddaughter, Mia, who lives in Queensland. She hopes to meet her in person soon.
Kind, caring, interesting, and fun, she loves sharing her life and cheery personality with other participants and everyone at I Am Here.
I am Dotti
Dotti is like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.
A frequent respite guest since 2016, her infectious smile and bright, bubbly persona make Dotti’s stays at I Am Here an event we all look forward to.
Dotti loves to socialise with people who are familiar to her and is always keen to get out and about in the community.
Among her favourite activities with us are trips to Timezone, the zoo, barbeques with other guests and residents, ten-pin bowling, the cinema, colouring in, painting, singing, feeding ducks, going for scenic walks, and more!
She’s a massive music fan, too. Her iPad is full of tunes from her favourite artists, including Dolly Parton, Suzie Quattro (who she’s seen in concert three times), and Kasey Chambers.
But music isn’t her only passion. She’s a huge Newcastle Knights fan and supports her local community team by attending as many home games as possible during the NRL season. With her extensive collection of Knights merchandise, Dotti is red and blue through and through. Go the Knights!!
She’s also a fan of colourful fingernails. She loves to paint her nails in one of the more than 150 colours from her collection, then add a touch of glitter for that extra sparkle.
Colourful, happy-go-lucky Dotti is a beautiful soul with a heart of gold.
I Am Here is a NDIS registered respite and supported independent living provider in Newcastle, NSW. We're known and loved for our welcoming home environment, friendly team and the compassionate support of our full-time support workers who help our guests and residents live daily life and their best life. We offer personal care, help with daily tasks, cooking meals, overnight support, and more.
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I am Anthony
Anthony is our in-house rock ‘n roll aficionado who can tell you the band and the song in just a couple of notes. Anthony is the total surprise package. Cheeky and quirky, yet highly intelligent and discerning.
Anthony originally arrived as a supported independent living resident of Am Here in 2019 following his acquired brain injury.
He most enjoys talking about surfing, outings to the beach and walks in the sun.
He’s an avid fan of rock music; his collection of AC/DC T-shirts testifies to his passion for this iconic Australian band.
Anthony enjoys sitting on the deck, chatting with staff and engaging in interactive play to help sharpen his hand-eye coordination. He has a cheeky sense of humour and is always quick to smile.
One of his favourite pastimes is watching F1 car racing on TV, he happily sits and enjoys the sights and sounds of the cars doing laps.
His mum Helen and dad Mark are especially important to him, his face lighting up whenever he sees them.
Despite the numerous challenges he faces, Anthony has made extraordinary progress while in the care of our wonderful I Am Here team.
With great encouragement from staff and family, his communication has dramatically improved, and thanks to his love of hydrotherapy, we’re now seeing improvements in his physical mobility.
He’s slowly but surely kicking a lot of big goals!
I am Jason
Jason is the reason we are here.
The son of our co-founder, Pamela Comerford OAM, Jason, suffered a catastrophic brain injury during a rugby league game just before his 18th birthday. This life-changing event set Pam on a course to create a respite service for people with acquired brain injuries and their carers. The result is I Am Here.
Now 52, he lives at his family home with Pam and utilises I Am Here’s community access services.
Fitness is high on his agenda of activities. He enjoys working out at his local gym a few times a week, pumping iron and mingling with the other ‘gym junkies’. He’s into walking, too, and you’ll often see him and his beloved dog, Buddy, doing laps of the neighbourhood.
A very social person, he enjoys being out and about, whether its shopping with his mother, an expedition to a Hunter landmark or dropping into 18 Isabella Close for a chat and a game of pool with the residents and carers there.
His sharp sense of humour always comes to the fore in company, so be prepared for a laugh when Jason’s about.
After an outing, Jason likes to relax in front of the TV or tune into his favourite songs from the 70’s and 80’s.
A funny and unique individual, he will always hold a special place in the hearts of the I Am Here family.
Take a virtual tour of our homes
As warm and familiar as home, the supported independent living and short-term guests and residents at our disability accommodation are free to be themselves. Step inside to explore the rooms and get a feel for what life is like at I Am Here. Get in touch to see if we have any current vacancies.
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Work with us
We're always on the lookout for enthusiastic people with a passion for caring to join our respite and supported independent living. If you're a disability support worker or support coordinator in Newcastle, Lake Macquarie or the Central Coast looking for your next career move, we'd love to hear from you.