Since 2006 the Summer Foundation has been working to stop younger people with disability being forced into aged care.
In collaboration with other organisations, we have helped 7,500 young people with disability avoid residential aged care.
It is now accepted that residential aged care is not suitable for young people with disability. The proposed changes to the Aged Care Act will strengthen this position by making it more difficult for people under 65 to access funding for residential aged care.
Yet the problem of finding appropriate housing and support for people who require access to 24/7 support remains.
The only option for many of these people is to live in group homes where the support is often poor quality, expensive, and puts people at increased risk of violence, abuse and neglect.
Our research and experience shows that better outcomes are possible and affordable for government. People with complex support needs have the right to equitable and inclusive housing, support and services.
We are home to one of Australia’s leading disability research teams.
We want to build on this evidence base by collaborating with people with disability and like-minded organisations, including universities, technology innovators and service providers, to deliver better housing and living solutions for the more than 40,000 Australians with disability who need access to 24/7 support.
Young people in residential aged care will always be important to us, and are part of the more than 40,000 Australians with disability who need better housing and living solutions.
Our work will continue to be evidence based and co-designed with end-users.
We are excited about our new direction. We aim to set a new standard in housing and living supports – one that lifts expectations of what a good life and future can look like for Australians with disability with high support needs.