After weeks of being unable to visit family, Horsham's Abbie Wilson will finally be able to welcome a loved one into her home.
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From 11.59pm on Sunday, Victorians that live on their own will be able to nominate a person that can come and visit them for face-to-face social interaction, a concept known as a "social bubble".
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Ms Wilson said this change would make a big difference to her life.
"It has come very, very late for some people, but anything is better than what we've had," she said.
"You're always going to be stressed, but you now feel like you're worthy of someone, because they can actually come and see you.
"I would have a member of my family around - they don't live locally, which has been hard. I think times like this have made us open our eyes and realise what we've got.
"My brother lives in Portland, which is in a 'good area' for the virus I suppose. We would sit down and watch movies, go for walks and just talk. I think we both need it."
Ms Wilson, an insurance broker, has worked from her office during the second round of lockdown to improve her mental wellbeing.
"If your work space becomes your living space, you can't do any of it effectively," she said.
Chief Medical Officer Professor Brett Sutton said this week this person cannot be from Melbourne, nor can regional Victorians travel to Melbourne as a city resident's nominee.
It will not run in conjunction with the intimate partner arrangement, meaning people will have to choose between the two schemes.
The support person can bring their children with them to their single friend's property if they cannot be left unattended.
But if the nominated person lives with other adults, they must be out of the house when the single person visits.
Horsham-based Agriculture Victoria research scientist Onella Cooray is not planning to use the social bubble option at this stage.
"It's hard: How do you choose just one person, and then what if you get fed up with each other because you're the only two people you see?," she said.
"Normally I would go to my friend's house, and she has three labradors but also a housemate, so I can't nominate them in my social bubble. It's been a bit hazy and confusing."
Ms Cooray has lived alone since moving to Horsham in January 2019, after sharing a house while working her previous job in Queensland.
"When I moved here, I actively sought meeting people locally," she said. "My weekends were never free: I was going to the Jung or Haven farmers markets with someone, or checking out galleries and festivals like the Nati Frinj. Even though I am an introvert, I do need people time, and I prefer it in person.
"When the restrictions started, I tried Zoom catch-ups, and I found those really draining because it's not organic, and there is a lot more pressure for people to talk and fill space."
Instead of the "social bubble", Ms Cooray said she would continue meeting her friends on walks with their pets.
"I have my cat Maggie, which I adopted from Horsham PAWS," she said. "I also get foster cats because animal rescue doesn't stop during a pandemic.
"If I didn't have the animals, I would have struggled so much more during these restrictions. I have mental health struggles I deal with and I am living on my own, so it's already been quite difficult, but I can't imagine how much harder I would have found it if I didn't have my Maggie."
- Beyond Blue: 1300 22 46 36
- blackdoginstitute.com.au
- SANE Australia: 1800 18 72 63
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