The research team has had several papers published in peer-reviewed journals this year. 

Quality disability support

Megan Topping’s “Building an evidence-based multi-level system of quality disability support for adults with acquired neurological disability” was published in Disability and Rehabilitation in February. 

The paper brings together the perspectives of people with acquired neurological disability, disability support workers and close others on what quality disability support looks like. 

It highlights the importance of people having real choice around their supports and the opportunity to recruit, train and manage their support workers to ensure they receive quality support. You can read a summary of the research here. 

Discharge planning

A scoping review of 16 studies that looked into hospital discharge outcomes for people with acquired disability and complex needs was also recently published in Brain Impairment.

“‘Well, what are you going to do when you’re out there?’: a scoping review of successful hospital discharge for people with acquired disability and complex needs aged 18–65 years” identified 4 main themes for successful hospital discharge – coordination and continuity between health professionals, preparation for hospital discharge, tangible supports on discharge, and involvement of the person with disability and close others. 

The research also made several recommendations for ways to improve the hospital discharge process. You can read a summary here.  

Realising rights in supported accommodation

A desktop scan Resources to assist NDIS participants to understand their rights, make complaints and raise issues with a supported accommodation provider – Desktop scan report has been published on our website.

The scan looks at resources to support residents to be informed about rights, to stay safe, speak out and to raise issues or concerns when living in supported accommodation. You can read a summary of the report here. 

Summer Foundation CEO Dr Di Winkler and La Trobe University’s Professor Jacinta Douglas explore questions around the NDIS Review recommendations in their latest article for The Conversation.

Proposed legislation that delivers fair, flexible and consistent funding would contribute to the sustainability of the scheme by enabling participants to adjust their supports, save and roll over funds. The legislation also includes ways people with disability may be afforded housing rights most people take for granted, such as choosing a home and housemates. 

Dr Winkler and Professor Douglas argue that policy makers have incorrectly assumed people with disability need to live together for efficiencies to be made. The recommendation of 1 support worker to 3 participants has worried the disability community and there are concerns this will be used to reduce the cost of NDIS plans. 

Innovation to redesign services and build contemporary disability housing is urgently needed to increase the quality and reduce the cost of support.  

Research has already shown that co-located single occupant housing positively impacts wellbeing, community integration and independence. Better data on housing and support needs and preferences for people who require 24/7 support is needed to foster a user-driven market. 

This data could inform NDIS policy that incentivises user-led services that will improve quality, efficiencies and outcomes for NDIS participants.  

You can read the full article here.

ABC News has reported on the Summer Foundation’s latest research that explores the views of building and design sector professionals when integrating accessible design standards into new housing.

Disability advocates say standardised national accessibility standards are crucial, with many people living with disability forced to live in inappropriate situations because of a lack of accessible housing.

“The features we’re talking about are not a big ask, and we’ll just end up with better quality housing that is future-proof,” Summer Foundation CEO Dr Di Winkler told ABC News. 

The key features in the mandatory design standards include level access entryways, a step-free entry to the home, a step-free shower recess, wall reinforcement around the toilet for future grab rail installation, stairways designed to reduce the likelihood of injury and enable future adaptation, wider door frames and halls, and a toilet on the ground level.

The research found that the sector is optimistic about implementing accessible designs, but requires more training for builders and architects from peak representative bodies. Industry members need to be supported by peak bodies with the changes and the distribution of consistent resources and practical guidance.

The Disability Royal Commission and the recent NDIS Review recommended the NSW and WA governments sign up immediately to the standards (see LinkedIn post). 

The Building Better Homes campaign needs your help to encourage the NSW and WA governments to sign up to mandatory accessibility standards for new homes.

The Summer Foundation welcomes the Disability Royal Commission’s focus on inclusive housing in its final report. As we continue to focus our work on people with disability with high and complex needs we welcome the 11 recommendations around housing in the report. 

Our Position Statement details our recommendations and how we intend to work with governments to bring these recommendations to fruition. 

In response to the final report we will continue working with and for Australians with disability, particularly those requiring 24/7 support. We remain committed to a range of initiatives that will improve the lives of people with high and complex needs.

We seek to work with governments to provide an evidence base supported by research, co-design, and projects that demonstrate innovation and potential.  We will scale evidence based solutions and design alternative approaches to supported independent living. 
We look forward to working with all levels of government to improve the outcomes of people with high and complex needs. For further details, you can read our full submission here.

With the release of the NDIS Review recommendations in late 2023, Reasonable & Necessary podcast host, Dr George Taleporos, has been busy looking closely at the recommendations and what they might mean for people with disability. 

This year’s series kicks off with a double feature where Dr George, along with a group of sector experts, takes a ‘deep dive’ into what’s in that final report. The podcast Deep Dive into the NDIS Review – Part 1: What happened to participant choice and control? looks closely at how choice and control may be affected in light of recommendations around registered providers. Part 2 looks at assessments, navigators and psychosocial supports. 

This is followed by an interview where we meet the NDIS worker and provider taskforce. This taskforce has been established to ensure the recommendations are interrogated by people with disability through a proper co-design process. You can listen here. 

In the latest episode, Dr George talks to disability law experts Mitchell Skipsey and Dr Darren O’Donnovan about the changes to the NDIS Act. They explore the reasons for the changes, and how these changes may impact NDIS participants. They also share important details on how you can share your thoughts or concerns on the changes through a submission to the Senate. Don’t miss this important episode! Watch it here.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released new data about the numbers of young people living in residential aged care (RAC). 

Comparing this to data we have gathered from other sources, including Senate Estimates and the NDIS Quarterly Report, we can conclude: ·      

• As of 30 September 2023, there were 1,891 young people living in RAC; 1,565 were NDIS participants
• From 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023, 320 younger people entered RAC
• From October 2022 to 30 September 2023, 589 people under 65 left aged care
  

Historical data indicates a downwards trend in both the number of people entering aged care and the number of people living in aged care. In September 2022 there were 2,672 people under 65 living in RAC, compared to the latest figure of 1,891 (September 2023). In the year to  September 2022, 435 people under 65 entered aged care, compared to 320 people in the year to September 2023.

The data clearly shows that there has been a significant reduction in the number of younger people entering residential aged care. However, examining the younger people leaving RAC indicates that 60% of the people are dying while still in RAC, and the majority of those going to other accommodation are going back to their family homes or hospitals. 

There is still substantial work to be done. We are committed to continue working with government to improve the rates in which YPIRAC with high and complex needs are leaving RAC to go to accommodation that is appropriate for their needs with appropriate support in place.

Our Aged Care to Home service had a stall at the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s national provider conference in April in Adelaide.

“The conference was a great opportunity to connect with aged care providers who have young NDIS participants in their care,” said the service’s engagement coordinator Alicia Baltra-Ulloa.

“The free service works directly with young people living in aged care, and their supporters, to achieve their housing and support goals.”

Its work aligns with the Federal Government’s target to ensure all younger people transition out of aged care by 2025 (apart from in exceptional circumstances). 

Since July 2023 the Aged Care to Home service has supported 15 people to move out of aged care and many others to improve their quality of life while remaining in aged care.

The philanthropically funded service is a partnership between the Summer Foundation and the Housing Hub.

For more information visit the Aged Care to Home webpage.

La Trobe University and the Summer Foundation are undertaking research to find out about the impact of the NDIS on the lives of young people living in aged care.

The research aims to understand how the NDIS is supporting people to achieve their goals, particularly in relation to their housing needs and preferences. It involves interviews with people living in aged care, families and those working with young people in aged care.

If you are a support coordinator working with anyone under 65 years living in aged care and interested in participating in this study, we would love to hear from you.

Email elroy.dearn@summerfoundation.org.au or register your interest by visiting summerfoundation.org.au/research-study. You can also text/phone Elroy on 0458 756 984.

The Summer Foundation and the Housing Hub host a range of face-to-face and online workshops for audiences across Australia.