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About the Summer Foundation

We’re passionate about stopping young people with disability from being forced into residential aged care, by helping them access the support needed to be in control of where, how and with whom they live.

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Person

I am a person with disability or close other.

A briefcase

I work with people with disability.

House

I want to find out about housing.

I want to find a report or resource.

Research library

By researching the issues at each stage of the critical pathways that lead young people to aged care we can provide the evidence needed to create the systems change that will solve this problem.

Visit our Research Library

Resource library

Government relations and policy
People with disability and supporters

UpSkill is a Summer Foundation program that offers training and resources for NDIS professionals assisting people with complex support needs

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Latest news and events

Person being shown a Yours Rights brochure by their Support Coordinator

Best practice when working with people with complex support needs

Posted on Friday 17 March, 2023
Online Workshop – Zoom
DATE: Thursday 13 April 2023

Learn about the guiding approaches of service provision including taking a human rights and person-centered approach to practice, working in a trauma informed way, practicing cultural sensitivity and promoting self determination.
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Connor is now living in SDA

Posted on Friday 10 March, 2023
We first met Connor during the more than 2 years he waited to get the right SDA approval in his NDIS plan. Late last year Connor finally moved in to his own apartment.
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Too many young dying in aged care

Posted on Monday 20 February, 2023
Source: The Australian – Sarah Ison
More than 10,000 younger people have died in residential aged care over the past decade, with new figures prompting calls for the government to implement ambitious timeframes to get ­people under 65 out of aged care and into suitable accommodation.
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At the start it was hard for me to talk about myself, but I loved it, it gives you a chance to tell your story and help some people along the way.

— Daniel Black, a man who previously lived in RAC

Thanks for the Staying Connected page. I found it useful and uplifting to know we are all in this together and great to hear from other people and read their stories.

— Salote, a person with disability

It is great to attend training that is relevant and can be applied to work practice with knowledgeable facilitators.

— Bridie West, Support Coordinator

I had no confidence in my ability to support someone through this process [SDA] but now I know I can after yesterday’s training. Although it’s a time consuming task, you have shown us we all have the skills to do well at it.

— Lisa Davis, Support Coordinator

Annual Public Forum 2022

This year’s forum focused on this new era of the NDIS. Now is the time to explore how a reimagined NDIS could truly serve the people it was designed for! 

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Meet Christie

Christie talks about the barriers to achieving her home and living goals

More video stories

Summary of NDIS Participant Survey Results

This research aims to understand what works well in the NDIS, how it has made a difference to people’s lives and what they would change about the NDIS.

Read the full report