Our Annual Public Forum, held on Thursday 31 October, brought together key stakeholders to talk about what it will take to stop younger people going into aged care for good.
This important event followed on from the Aged Care Royal Commission in September, where we heard devastating evidence about the impact of living in nursing homes on many younger people.
Around 140 people attended, listening and engaging in the conversation between younger people who have lived in aged care, their families, NDIS and health executives, policy makers and sector professionals who discussed what is needed to create change.
Presenter Beverley O’Connor (ABC News 24) led the forum panel, which included:
- Scott McNaughton – NDIA Acting Deputy CEO, Government, Communication and Stakeholder Engagement
- Iain Edwards – Operations Director of Community Health, Peninsula Health
- Helen Burt – a younger woman who lives in aged care
- Allanah Kennedy – Senior Manager Independence Division, Transport Accident Commission
Helen Burt, who shared her personal story of living in aged care, showed just how important it is to stop younger people with disability going into aged care.
This was reinforced by the findings in the Aged Care Royal Commission interim report, which was released on the same day as the forum.
It was also encouraging that Mr McNaughton committed the NDIA to learning from hospitals and the Transport Accident Commission (Victoria) about making it easier for people to leave hospital with the right supports and avoid going into aged care.