For more than 60 years, Somerville Community Services has been supporting people with disability across the Northern Territory to live meaningful, independent lives.
From Darwin to Palmerston, Katherine to Alice Springs, their reach spans metropolitan, regional, and remote communities. But what sets Somerville apart is not just where they operate, it’s how they show up.
Through Supported Independent Living, Specialist Disability Accommodation, and Support Coordination, their focus remains consistent. Every decision, every service, and every environment is shaped around the individual. Goals, preferences, and personal aspirations lead the way.
In regions where access can be limited and distances vast, Somerville continues to find practical, innovative ways to ensure people are not left behind.
Designing homes where people can truly live
Accessibility at Somerville is not a feature, it’s the foundation.
Working alongside their sister company, Somerville Housing, the organisation has delivered a series of thoughtfully designed Specialist Disability Accommodation homes across Darwin and Katherine, with further developments planned for Alice Springs.
These homes are environments designed for real life. Places where people can move freely, feel comfortable, and engage in everyday experiences that many take for granted.
Their approach is deeply collaborative. Participants, families, allied health professionals, and support teams all play a role in shaping the environment. Staff are continuously trained to ensure they have the confidence and capability to support participants in meaningful ways.
The impact of inaccessible pools
For many participants, having a pool at home should mean freedom, enjoyment, and therapy. But before the installation of the Pelican Pool and Spa Hoist, that wasn’t the reality.
Accessing the water safely was a significant challenge. Entering and exiting the pool required high levels of manual handling, creating serious risks for both participants and staff. In many cases, it simply wasn’t possible.
The alternative meant travelling to public pools, which often came with logistical barriers, limited availability, and inconsistent access. For some, this meant missing out altogether.
The impact went deeper than just physical access. It affected connection, routine, and wellbeing. Opportunities for hydrotherapy were limited, and social participation around water-based activities became increasingly out of reach.
The turning point
The decision to install the Pelican Pool and Spa Hoist came through trusted recommendations from experienced Occupational Therapists who had seen its impact firsthand.
What followed was more than just the addition of equipment. It was a shift in what was possible.
Today, participants have safe, reliable access to their own pools. For some, it meant getting back into the water after years. For others, it meant experiencing it again for the very first time.
The emotional impact is immediate and visible. Joy, confidence, and a renewed sense of independence.
Rebuilding confidence, strength, and connection
Since the hoist was installed, the benefits have extended well beyond access.
Participants are now engaging in regular hydrotherapy sessions, allowing them to actively work towards their NDIS goals. These sessions support muscle strength, flexibility, and mobility, while reducing strain on joints.
A growing number of participants are accessing consistent hydrotherapy within their home environments, supported by visiting allied health professionals. This has also strengthened collaboration across the region, making it easier for therapists to deliver meaningful, ongoing care.
As a result, participants are also spending more time together, exploring new activities, and reconnecting with something that brings genuine enjoyment. Water has become a place of movement, therapy, along with social connection.
Empowering the people who support them
The impact of the hoist has also transformed day-to-day operations for staff.
Recognising the importance of confidence and safety, Somerville partnered with Charles Darwin University and allied health providers to develop a dedicated pool hoist training program.
Through collaboration with Occupational Therapy students and professionals, the program was piloted in Katherine and is now being rolled out more broadly across Darwin and Palmerston.
This has equipped support workers with the skills and confidence to assist participants safely and effectively, reducing manual handling risks while improving the quality and consistency of support.
It’s a living example of just how much Somerville invests in people.
A special mention goes out to Andrew Congdon from AT Lab for recommending the Pelican Pool & Spa Hoist and the OT team at Territory Therapy Solutions who provided invaluable staff training.
A bigger picture of inclusive living
At Somerville, the Pelican Pool and Spa Hoist is not a standalone solution. It is part of a much larger vision.
A vision where accessibility is built into every home, every service, and every interaction. Where participants are not limited by their environment, but supported to explore it. And where inclusion is not talked about in theory, but lived every day.
The real impact of Somerville’s approach is not measured in equipment or infrastructure. It is seen in the people they support, the smiles, the confidence and the connections made.
This is what happens when accessibility is done properly.