About the Guest:

Kirk Patson, PhD: Kirk is an esteemed director of the Sydney Missionary and Bible College Centre for Preaching and Pastoral Ministry. With a profound commitment to addressing the needs of marginalized communities, Kirk has been instrumental in pioneering innovative housing solutions for people with disabilities through their project, "Our Place Christian Community."

Lisa Patson: With a BA Dip Ed, Lisa has diverse experience as an art teacher, public servant, deaconess, teacher's aide, and in chaplaincy with Anglicare. Her dedication to community service and improving the lives of persons with disabilities shines through her collaborative work with her husband, Kirk, in developing "Our Place."

Key Takeaways:

• Innovative Housing Solutions: "Our Place Christian Community" offers a novel model for accommodating people with disabilities, focusing on faith-based, inclusive living environments that prioritize community integration and autonomy.
• Challenges of Caregiving: The episode sheds light on the substantial challenges and emotional complexities faced by families caring for individuals with disabilities, stressing the need for supportive networks and forward planning.
• Mutual Benefits of Inclusive Living: Living in a community with individuals with disabilities enriches both caregivers and residents, offering reciprocal learning, joy, and companionship.
• Visionary Leadership: Kirk and Lisa's work is a testament to visionary leadership in disability inclusion, highlighting the need for sustainable and replicable community models backed by governmental and charitable support.
• Community and Faith as Pillars: Emphasizing the role of faith and community, the initiative underlines the potential for religious institutions and local communities to actively engage in creating supportive, welcoming spaces for all.

Notable Quotes:

1. "We wanted to serve in the world in some way, probably through Christian mission." - Kirk Patson
2. "If we're going to put creativity and work into that for him, can we do something that will benefit more than just him?" - Kirk Patson
3. "Having meals together is a real unifier across cultures and across abilities." - Lisa Patson
4. "Discover the blessing of an open door, and you'll find a pace of life you didn't even know you needed." - Kirk Patson
5. "It's an option for people with faith who want to live with others and have some stability for the future." - Lisa Patson

Resources:

• Our Place Christian Community: Learn more about the project and how you can support at ourplacecc.org.au
• Christian Blind Mission’s Luke 14 Program: Offers resources for enhancing disability inclusion in churches.
• Book: "Everyone Welcome" by Louise Gosbell: A resource for disability inclusion, available for download.

Click here to contact Janet & Amelia or ask them a question or click here to contact the She Wasn't Born Yesterday team!

She Wasn’t Born Yesterday, hosted by Janet Evans, a senior advertising creative and Dr Amelia Haines, a sexual and relationship therapist, who have written Australia’s first book on empty nest syndrome called Empty Next.

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