Source: Jon Stanhope, Chief Minister, ACT Government

The ACT Government’s on-going commitment to providing appropriate accommodation and support arrangements for younger people with disabilities has been reaffirmed with the signing of a Bilateral Agreement between the ACT Government and the Federal Government to help young people with disabilities in residential aged care, Chief Minister Jon Stanhope said today.

“The new joint ACT and Federal Government Young People in Residential Aged Care (YPiRAC) program will see both governments provide $1.9 million each over five years,” Mr Stanhope said.

“It is pleasing to see the Commonwealth Government acknowledge our demonstrated commitment to this often hidden group of people with disabilities, by jointly funding services.”

The ACT Government’s commitment to young people is reflected in the very low number of younger people with disabilities in the ACT living in residential aged care.

“Unlike other jurisdictions, which are only now responding to the needs of hundreds of people aged under 40 living in aged care facilities, the ACT has been addressing this issue as part of its disability reform process,” Mr Stanhope said.

“In the ACT, there are less than five people aged under 50 years living in such circumstances.

The ACT Government has established a number of initiatives specifically to provide appropriate care, accommodation and activities for younger people with disabilities.

“We recently made available a modified property in Fisher for four young people with acquired brain injury. The residents will include a person who has been in a local aged care facility. The other three people may have needed to move into such accommodation had this property not been made available.

“These young people will receive their accommodation support services from Hartley Lifecare and are due to move in this February.

“In addition, the ACT Government funds a number of community agencies to support young people to remain in community-based accommodation and to provide activities and recreation that are age-appropriate.

“These are people who have either previously lived in residential aged care or who might otherwise been required to do so. Centacare receives $1.286 million from the ACT Government to provide supported accommodation and therapeutic rehabilitation options for up to eight younger people living in the Dorothy Sales Cottages.

“Additional funding of $173 000 is available to enable people with high support needs, living with families to access regular respite care. 

“Koomarri Association provides support to younger people with high physical support needs, living in two households who also moved from residential aged care services in the late 1990’s. The ACT Government allocates funding of more than $900,000 for this purpose.”

The ACT Government also allocates some $8.2 million in individual funding packages to enable approximately 150 other young people to live safely and appropriately in their community based accommodation.

Statement Ends

Media Contact:   Ciaran Chestnutt       6205 3018         0438 097 441     This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it