Navigating the N.D.I.S and discovering A Twist of Willow.
Originally published boronia and the Basin Community Newspaper March 2019
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The introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) created a lot of expectation and stress for many Australians as it was gradually rolled out over the last year. Regardless, it’s a fantastic concept that helps those who are severely injured, disabled or mentally and physically disadvantaged to become more active in society. Having a young adult child who qualified for assistance under the scheme was an exciting prospect for us as parents, to be able to have new opportunities present themselves so that our child would have a better chance for the future and more importantly a better quality of life as they grow older were encouraging.
Of course, it was never going to be
easy. The scheme is a massive bureaucracy responsible for billions of dollars
annually. There are plans and budgets and new people to meet and for many who
qualify for the scheme (not just their carers),
it was a leap into the unknown and a scary process.
The NDIS kicked into gear July 2018
and to say we were fully satisfied with what could be achieved was far from the
truth, it wasn’t the scheme’s fault or the organization as a whole, there were
just so many options and roads to travel that we accepted the fact that
experience was something we would learn on the way and probably seconds after
we really needed it. It is not without its faults, but we got lucky. I write
that because without the NDIS and the constant meetings and toing and froing we
would never have discovered A Twist of
Willow. (Now known as the Yarra Valley Nocturnal Zoo)
A
Twist of Willow is a bed and breakfast accommodation – nocturnal zoo in Mt. Evelyn run by Steven Handy
and Loo Scoon.
Steve and Loo moved to the current
location 12 years ago with their growing family with the plans of operating a
Bed and Breakfast on the property. Steve who had some building experience built
the accommodation on weekends and
holidays whilst both he and Loo worked their normal day jobs for the Department
of Human Services.
The zoo and its collection of
native animals grew as an extension from the B&B as many Asian tourists
were keen to see native Australian animals.
When the NDIS was being developed, both Loo
and Steven with their years of experience working with people with disabilities
in the DHS realised that the zoo would be a perfect placement under the scheme.
Thus, the development of the Zoo Keeper
program.
A wonderful idea where NDIS
participants, usually young adults with a love of working with animals come in
up to three days a week and get a chance to prepare, feed, clean, and all other
assorted duties in relation to caring for the animals.
This was perfect for our daughter
and the instant results from her demeanour
and self-esteem were evidence of the success of the program
Loo and Steve’s experience was
evident with their attitude and patience with their charges and the lines of communication that they keep with parents and carers. They even attend outside of
work parties of their charges such is their dedication and level of care.
The Zoo though not open to the
general public is host to tours by International visitors and recently schools
which the NDIS participants are helpful guides, something that proves the
success of the program because I could never believe our child could do this
anytime last year.
We were very fortunate this
Christmas, as part of the A Twist of
Willow holiday break up party we were treated to a night tour of the animal
enclosures.
The Lodge and zoo itself are very
low key and easy to pass unnoticed from the road, even from the footpath. But
the layout is a testament to Steven and Loo’s imagination and creativity.
The property is on a sloping
incline and the zoo enclosures built behind the family home and guest
accommodation. Paths intertwine a citrus grove onto the animal enclosures which
are made of recycled wood and other materials to give a lovely rustic charm. A
fake church fascia here a wagon over there that doubles as a food store a mine
tunnel complete with coal trucks in another spot, these structures holding
anything from dingoes, wombats, possums, a crocodile
and even several species of Owls. This
doesn’t mean that everything is on top of each other as the back of the
property opens out and there are open
paddocks that hold kangaroos, emus,
horses and even a wedgetail eagle. As well as some real surprises like a white
peacock and kangaroo.
Running around among all this are the house cats, chickens, ducks and Red Dog the local legend
farm hound.
A Twist of Willow being a registered zoo also is active in many breeding programs to help endangered and threatened species. They just recently procured four quolls’, a species extinct on the Australian mainland since the 1960s and an animal closely related to both the Tasmanian devil and tiger (Thylacine).
As mentioned earlier, though not
open to the public for day visits, the zoo
has recently invited schools to visit as educational excursions and with the
help of the NDIS helpers are able to give a helpful happy and informative tour
that is helpful for both student and guides.
A
Twist of Willow is a great initiative
and it’s fantastic to see people putting so much back into the community and
the things they are passionate about, if you want to know more about the accommodation and the zoo visit the website. www.atwistofwillow.com.au or visit their facebook page.
