Help Paula fund some wheels

Hi everyone. This is Paula. She is 57 years old and lives in a remote Western Australian town called Wyndham.

Paula is living with Rheumatoid Arthritis and hasn’t been able to get out and do activities of her own choice for about seven years. To enable Paula to become independent and access places in her community, she would require a modified vehicle.

Paula has explained receiving a disability accessible modified vehicle would be like getting a life again. She described it would be "like a blind person being told they can see". Paula is a mother, grandma, and great grandmother. She is proud of her legacy. Paula reports "It’s the simple things in life I miss like getting a coffee out, sitting at ski beach, and seeing my grandchildren in Halls Creek".

Paula is extremely isolated due to her disability and is dreaming of the day she can visit the Bastion, "to sit up there and enjoy the breeze and the scenery". Paula would also like to visit her local cemetery, Anton’s Landing, and the Port, "just being there, and being connected". She is unable to participate in these meaningful activities as she is not able to access independently or even leave her home without the appropriate support.

Paula was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in 2007. Some of you may be familiar with this disease and would know how debilitating it is. RA is a chronic condition where the joints of the body can swell and become deformed, causing significant amounts of pain. Paula now relies on a powered wheelchair for all mobility. Her knees are fixed at a 90-degree angle, making all transfers extremely difficult to manage.

Paula's wish is to have her own vehicle so she can choose what to do each day and stop her from being housebound.

In the Kimberley’s, there are limited disability servicing vehicles, all of which are on high demand. Paula can only receive community access one day a week, which may be consumed for medical needs and appointments.

There is a hospital bus available in the area, however due to her complex needs and pain levels, this bus isn’t suitable for her to use and is only available for medical use.

Having a vehicle will enable Paula to be safer, particularly in an event of a red alert when the community would have to evacuate Wyndham.

Paula is the most kind-hearted, warm, and positive person. Please help her by donating so she can afford to purchase a modified vehicle which would allow her to be an independent community member. Thank you.