An elected Liberal Nationals Government will establish a fund to get young Victorians with a disability out of aged care and into accommodation that meets their needs.

The number of young people inappropriately accommodated in residential aged care continues to rise. 

A 2015 Senate Inquiry heard harrowing stories of young people’s experiences in aged care.

Existing programs assist people at risk of admission to aged care facilities, but too little is being done to help Victorians currently in residential aged care to get into more suitable accommodation.

An elected Liberal Nationals Government will change this, establishing a new $10 million fund and working with the sector to improve the lives of young people with a disability.

Young Victorians with a disability deserve to live in housing that meets their social, day-to-day and financial needs.

The average age of people in aged care is 84 years old but more than 6,000 Australians under 65 are living in aged care.

With the Liberal Nationals’ investment, we’ll enable more providers to build specialist housing units and overcome the high cost of set-up that stops many existing or new providers entering the sector. 

A Liberal Nationals Government will work with the sector and organisations like Young People in Nursing Homes (YPINH), Youngcare and the Summer Foundation to achieve the best results for young Victorians with a disability.

A Liberal Nationals Government will make the investment needed to get young Victorians with a disability out of inappropriate aged care living situations and living in accommodation that meets their needs.

Comments attributable to Shadow Minister for Disability Tim Bull

Too many young people with a disability are stuck in inappropriate accommodation and not enough is being done help them.

For these young people, aged care homes do not meet their needs, leaving them isolated and without proper support.

Monday, November 19, 2018