‘Owning my home has changed my life’: Marlena’s story

Bank Australia customer Marlena is close with her family, and she always wanted to live nearby them in Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast. But she also wanted her independence, and that meant having her own space where she felt comfortable.

“As a woman with a physical disability, owning a home is important because I can set it up how I need,” says Marlena.

Marlena loves her local area and community, from the concierge in her building whom she chats with each day to the many cute dogs she sees in the streets and at the beach.

“I am free to go to the beach, local cafes, and from here I can jump on the light rail and go to most corners of the Gold Coast – or even Brisbane for that matter.”

Marlena’s journey to home ownership began in 2021 when she took out a home loan with Bank Australia to purchase her apartment. Previously she had been living in a rental apartment, which was close to her family but not customised to meet her needs.

Bank Australia was the best fit for Marlena’s home loan because we consider Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) funding from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) as a form of income to service a mortgage, in addition to other income from, like Marlena’s earnings from her work.

Marlena says her home loan application experience with Bank Australia was incredibly positive, and that the lending team were very helpful throughout the process.

“Owning my home has changed my life in more ways than one can imagine. I am blessed and thank Bank Australia for playing their part in this process, acknowledging my unique situation and approving my loan,” says Marlena.

When she isn’t at the beach or spending time with loved ones, Marlena works as a music journalist. She has interviewed some big names on the international music scene, including Ed Sheeran, Andrea Bocelli and Kylie Minogue.

Marlena has always worked, since her teens when she and a friend started bouncy castle business Burleigh Bouncers together. Financial security is important to Marlena because it enables her to maintain independence and plan for her future, whether it’s the everyday routine of caring for her home or planning a holiday.

Discover more about Marlena’s story in our How to Change the World in 60 Seconds series.