Source: Office of the Federal Minister for Ageing, Hon. Julie Bishop

MEDIA RELEASE

22 April 2005
JB042/05

Community home for young people in aged care

In an Australian first, three young Victorians with disabilities are leaving aged care homes to move into a community home.

The Acting Minister for Health and Ageing and Minister for Ageing, Julie Bishop, this morning participated in a ‘housewarming’ for the new residents of the Carnegie home, which is managed by the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Victoria, and is jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments.

"Through this innovative program, three women with multiple sclerosis have the chance to live in their own home, in the community, rather than in residential aged care," Ms Bishop said.

"While aged care homes can provide the clinical care that younger people with severe disabilities need, it is not an ideal social or emotional environment.

"Younger people with a disability who are unable to live in their own homes are moved into aged care homes when state and territory governments fail to provide any alternatives.

"The states and territories have received $2.8 billion from the Australian Government through the Commonwealth and State/Territory Disability Agreement specifically to meet their responsibilities, which include providing specialist disability accommodation services.

"For several years the Australian Government has offered funding to the states and territories to trial innovative projects to help young people out of aged care homes, and back into the community, but state and territory governments have failed to apply for funding.

"This is despite the fact that there are some 6,000 people aged under 65, including around 1,000 aged under 50, in aged care homes across Australia.

"I welcome the Victorian Government’s commitment to this project and congratulate the state for its involvement in the Aged Care Innovative Pool program. I have been meeting with the relevant state and territory Ministers to encourage them to take up the Australian Government’s offer.

"This program not only provides better quality of life for these young Australians, but also frees up aged care places for older Australians seeking residential care."

The Australian Government has provided $124,000 for the Carnegie project.

Media contact: Rachael Thompson 0417 265 289