When Estelle first arrived in Australia from Manchester more than 20 years ago, she remembers being struck by the sunlight.
“Australia felt like the land of opportunity. You make it what you can,” she says.
After settling on the Sunshine Coast, Estelle built a career as a paediatric nurse, married and raised two children. Life was busy and rewarding, but behind the scenes she was carrying challenges that would later have a significant impact on her health and wellbeing.
In 2015, Estelle was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s disease. The diagnosis marked the beginning of a difficult chapter, which included the breakdown of her marriage, the loss of her career and periods of housing insecurity.
As she navigated these challenges, Estelle was also dealing with the lasting effects of trauma and a lack of support.
“At one point, I lost almost everything,” she says.
When homelessness became a reality, Estelle sought help through the Homeless Hotline and was connected to temporary accommodation at the Kawana Hub. There, she accessed support services including trauma counselling and addiction recovery support.
The experience became a turning point.
After nine months at the Hub, Estelle secured a permanent Coast2Bay home, providing the safe and affordable housing she needed to rebuild her life.
Today, as she reflects on the past 12 months, Estelle speaks about the sense of security she has found.
“This is my safe place. Safe home, safe start,” she says.
Having a place to call home has given Estelle the stability to continue her healing journey while planning for the future.
“I feel empowered to see a future. Sometimes it’s still hard to see it clearly, but I know it’s there somehow. I feel very proud of myself.”
Estelle’s story is a powerful reminder that housing is more than a roof over someone’s head. It provides the foundation for safety, recovery and hope.
Today, she continues to move forward with courage, resilience and optimism, supported by the stability of her Coast2Bay home, proving that even after life’s most difficult challenges, new beginnings are possible.
