By Mitchell Clarke
A new “one-of-a-kind” service in Pakenham has opened to meet the needs of disabled children and adults through allied health services, respite care and play.
The service, which is part of the ‘My Puzzle House’ centre at Embrey Court, will deliver a range of professional services including in-home care, one on one respite and an inclusive play space for children and adults with disabilities.
The centre, which opened in October 2019, has been a safe haven for people living with disabilities.
Now, the team have launched their latest support service which will continue to provide extra care for all people, regardless of their physical, cognitive, sensory, language, speech or communication problems.
My Puzzle House Director and co-founder Mandi Marchant said assisting children and adults to further engage in solitary and social play helped to encourage many skills including locomotor, language and social.
“Now that we’ve been open for some time, we’ve had a chance to look at what extra services we can offer,” she said.
“There seems to be a bit of a gap in the disability scene. People struggle to find support that they feel is trustworthy.
“This new service doesn’t just help children with disabilities interact with each other or interact as adults. For some, it’s about whether they play and interact at all.”
Parents can drop their children off at the centre to receive tailored one-on-one or one-on-four care depending on their needs, or they can request to receive care from the comfort of their own home.
With the Christmas break fast approaching, the team is also gearing up to launch their school holiday program, which will see two fun activities held on-site daily.
The concept of the My Puzzle House initiative was born from a deeply personal experience.
Ms Marchant, a single mother, struggled to find help for son Rayne, who is autistic. Rayne’s severe autism meant he had behavioural problems which made inclusion in a mainstream school “impossible” and respite difficult.
After becoming socially isolated from her friendship circle, Ms Marchant founded My Puzzle House with the help of her mother, Robyn.
She said the centre received its name because she wanted everyone who visited to feel like it’s a “part of them”.
“My customers are my friends. It means everything to me to see these kids happy,” she added.
For more information on the new services and to receive an information pack, contact care@mypuzzlehouse.com.au.
