Reaching Towards Success

Today, there are around 4,100 people aged under 65 in residential aged care. This is a significant decrease in the number of younger people living in aged care in recent years, but there’s more to be done.??

The Summer Foundation was established to permanently stop young people with disability from being forced into residential aged care (RAC). Our early work focused on understanding the experience of young people forced to live in aged care and growing a body of evidence to support the need for systemic change. Our continued undertaking is to ensure young people have access to the support required to be in control of where, how and with whom they live.

Our objective is clear – to support, inform and empower people with disability and their families by:

• Assisting NDIS participants with complex support needs to have access to a range of housing options which align with their needs and preferences
• Preventing new admissions to RAC and supporting people with disability and their families to return to community living – where and how they choose
• Ensuring that the only young people who remain living in RAC are there due to exceptional circumstances, have made an informed choice, and are connected to effective NDIS plans, which they are supported to implement

Join us at the @SummerFoundtn Annual Public Forum next week, where we will look at what is being done – and what remains to be done – to close the door to aged care for young people. For good.

From noon on Thursday 4 November*, we’ll hear from policy makers, sector professionals and people with experience of living as a younger person in aged care. Speakers will include the Minister for the NDIS, Senator Linda Reynolds @lindareynoldswa, and Australia’s Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Ben Gauntlett @BenGauntlettDDC

Time is running out, so don’t miss your chance to hear this important discussion.

?? ?Book here https://www.summerfoundation.org.au/event/apf/

* NSW, ACT, VIC, TAS: 12pm – 1pm (AEDT), followed by Q&A from 1.20 – 1.40pm

WA: 9am – 10am (AWST), followed by Q&A from 10.20 – 10.40am (AWST)

NT: 10:30 – 11:30am (AEST), followed by Q&A from 11.50am – 12.10pm (AEST)

Qld: 11am – 12pm (AEST), followed by Q&A from 12.20 – 12.40pm (AEST)

SA: 11:30am – 12:30pm (ACST), followed by Q&A from 12.50 – 1.10pm (ACST)