Client Stories 

Janoak Villa is a Supported Residential Service for adults with a serious psychiatric disability and other disabilities including intellectual and brain injury, located in Strathmore. Janoak provides a long-term home for eleven residents who want and require significant levels of support with respect to living in a community setting. Janoak provides 24 hour staffing with all meals, washing and cleaning provided.  Encouragement and assistance is provided in accessing other services and activities.

Meet James...........

            “My name is James and I am 58 years of age.  I have lived at Janoak Villa for 7 years this June. Before I came to Janoak I lived at another supported residential service in Newport.  When I lived there I used to go out late at night, I felt unhappy and unsafe and other residents used to drink alcohol during the night.  There were no staff to look after us and we had to go out and buy all our own food and drinks.  I never used to take my medication there.

          At Janoak Villa we are looked after by the staff who do all our washing, cooking, cleaning, help with medication, take us out to appointments and other activities and they look after us.  At Janoak I feel safe because there are always staff here if something happens.  We have good meals and I have lots of friends that I live with.  The staff have helped me to join in with other programs such as the Boomerang Club, Common Ground, Salvation Army and I have been on a few holidays.  Since moving into Janoak Villa I have got the State Trustees to help look after my money and now I have more control over what I spend my money on as I have my own bank account.  I wouldn’t have been able to go and buy new clothes when I need them or go to meet the players at the Essendon Football Club, catch a tram into the city for a look around, catch the train to Geelong to look around and visit The Royal Melbourne Show without the help of the staff at Janoak.

            The best things about living at Janoak Villa is that I am happy, I feel safe, I have lots of things to do and the staff look after me.”