Well-positioned to advocate for this due to her own experience raising three children, all of whom have been diagnosed with autism, Sherri's first order of business is a purpose-built house for her youngest son, Tom, 19.
In 2017, difficulties with the NDIS rollout in the Loddon Campaspe region saw Tom, who is non-verbal, go into ‘out of home care'.
But with no suitable housing options in the region, the Department of Health and Human Services looked to relocate Tom to a high-security youth centre in Melbourne.
Sherri refused to have her son displaced away from home and worked hard to have him housed in Echuca.
The idea of a purpose-built house stemmed from that traumatic time, with Sherri recently becoming a registered Specialist Disability Accommodation provider to help achieve that dream.
“It was driven by the NDIS and the lack of support we ended up getting,” Sherri said.
“I didn’t want him to leave home, that was the last thing we needed.
“And they didn’t see the complexities of his needs.
“So I began searching for properties in the Echuca area that had the space to build Tom’s home.
“The land that we purchased already had an existing shed and power and we have connected the other necessary utilities.
“This is what we are doing for our son, but our dream is to also offer more suitable accommodation for other people with disability.”
Tom's complex needs means he requires a purpose-built home that is "tough and hardy".
It also ensures he and his support staff are in a safe environment, as Tom's behaviour at the family home has exposed wires behind the plaster.
Now in the design phase of Tom's home, the Cincottas are awaiting loan applications and processing equity to begin the next phase of the build.
“Our aim is to hopefully have Tom’s house completed by about Christmas 2022, which will be exciting for everyone,” Sherri said.
One of the family's biggest hurdles though is gaining access to the land, with the only entry point through the BUPA delivery driveway on Fehring Lane.
“At the moment, we don’t have access into the block of land due to the existing subdivision,” Sherri said.
“There is a requirement as the owner of the land to extend the existing service road over the channel and along the nature strip, which would cost $100,000.
“Families can’t pull that kind of money out of their back pocket.
“Having our own access road not only provides us with unrestricted access, but tradesmen, extended family and other potential community members and support providers as well.
“It is quite a substantial hurdle and we will need to source some type of grant to help us get this across the line.”
Despite that challenge, and likely more to come, Sherri remains committed to seeing this through to the end before turning her attention to helping other families going through the same thing.
“We're moving ahead and it's exciting,” Sherri said.
“Having three children with very different personalities and severities of autism has helped shaped my knowledge and experience.
“I want to not only advocate for my family and ensure their needs are met and they continue to live happy fulfilling lives, but I also to want to help others.”
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