Annette Nicholas, a mother from Western Australia, is concerned that proposed changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) could prevent her intellectually disabled and autistic son, Tre, from achieving his dream of independent living.
A record one-third of US adults aged 25-35 lived with parents in 2025, with high housing costs cited as the primary driver. Despite many holding jobs and degrees, soaring rents and home prices make independent living unaffordable, impacting household formation and delaying retirement for parents.
An inquest into the death of 17-year-old Mauchy, an Aboriginal boy in state care, heard concerns about his lack of supervision at a semi-independent living facility. He died from aspiration of gastric contents, likely due to a psychoactive drug. A witness had repeatedly raised concerns with the Department for Child Protection about his drug use and supervision needs.
