Respite: Bev Davis, right, and 38-year-old daughter Kylie.
JOHN VAN KLAVEREN
BEV Davis works the equivalent of two full-time jobs but not by choice.
As well as her day job at CSIRO’s Belmont facility, Bev also cares for her intellectually disabled adult daughter, Kylie.
“Sometimes you go home after a long day and you have another job. There’s a lot of pressure,” Bev admitted.
“I’m on call as well and sometimes it’s really difficult to find someone to look after Kylie at the last moment.
“I have a large and supportive family but they’re all getting older and can’t have her like they used to.”
Bev said disability services provider Karingal’s day and after-care programs helped ease the load.
“I use respite whenever I can because it gives me a break and gives Kylie a break from me.
“She learns independent living skills in respite, so she comes back a little different, which in turn helps me.
“But we could always use more.”
Karingal has launched its first public appeal to raise funds and in-kind goods and services for its Melaluka respite accommodation project at Leopold.
Karingal head Daryl Starkey said the project would provide 2500 nights of respite accommodation annually for up to 300 clients.
The project would refurbish and extend a two-bedroom dwelling that Karingal had acquired in Melaluka Rd, he said.
“We hope people get behind this community project either through a financial donation or through support with building materials, goods and even trade services.”
Mr Starkey said more information about the Melaluka project and how to help was available by phoning Karingal Foundation on 5249 8919 or visiting karingal.org.au and clicking on the site’s ‘Get Involved’ tab.
He said the project was seeking: tea towels, saucepans, cutlery, dinner sets, mugs, glasses, utensils, refrigerator, a freezer, dishwasher, microwave, frypan, electric kettle, toaster, sandwich-maker, food processor, towels, face washers, sheets, pillows, doonas and covers, mattress protectors.
The Independent is a Melaluka project supporter.
