Better care for young people with disability [31/3/2010]
Source: Offices of the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families,
Housing Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Hon Bill
Shorten MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's
Services and Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire
Reconstruction
Media Releases
Better care for young people with disability
31/03/2010
Joint Media Release with The Hon Bill Shorten MP, Parliamentary
Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services and Parliamentary
Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction
Over 190 young people with disability were moved out of, or were
diverted from entering residential aged care facilities between June
2006 and December 2008, according to a report released today. Between
December 2008 and June 2009, the number rose to 302.
The Minister for Community Services, Jenny Macklin, and Parliamentary
Secretary for Disabilities, Bill Shorten, today released the Mid Term
Evaluation of the Younger People with Disability in Residential Aged
Care (YPIRAC) program which aims to reduce the number of people under
the age of 65 living in aged care accommodation.
The evaluation found the program was having a positive impact on a large
number of younger people living in, or at risk of admission to,
residential aged care and that it was on track to reduce the total
numbers of young people in nursing homes by up to 689 people by 2011.
To ensure the program meets the different needs of clients and their
families, the Australian Government is providing $500,000 over two years
to June 2011 to the Young People in Nursing Homes National Alliance.
The Alliance will consult young people and their families, as well as
State and Territory Governments, the health sector and other
stakeholders to develop policy options and service pathways for this
group. It will report back to the Government on the future direction and
possible improvements to the program.
Ms Macklin said the five-year YPIRAC program, announced in 2006, aimed
to provide alternative accommodation and support for people under 65 who
were already living in, or at risk of moving into, aged care
facilities.
"Obviously younger people with disability have different needs from
older residents. This means nursing homes are often not the best
accommodation and care option for them," Ms Macklin said.
"We want to give younger people with disability better options. This is
why we are working hard with the States and Territories to provide
better choices for young people with disability rather than confining
them to nursing homes. This report shows we are making progress, but of
course there is still more work to be done."
Mr Shorten said it was important to listen to young people with
disability and their families so the Government could provide better
targeted services in the future.
"Young people should not be shut away in nursing homes just because they
have an impairment," Mr Shorten said.
"They should have the choice of accommodation with their peers, or
support programs that give them access to the community.
"Having the choice to live with comfort and dignity is a right to which
we are all entitled.
We are committed to working with the states and territories to provide
disability services which meet the needs of people with disability,
their families and carers and make sure they get a fair go.
We want to ensure that the States deliver this program as efficiently as
possible, and in a way that meets the needs of young people currently
in nursing homes.
The Australian Government is contributing $122 million over the five
years, from July 2006 to June 2011 with matched funding from the states
and territories.,
