In this episode of Reasonable & Necessary, George is speaking with Therese Clark from Barwon Health to find out how people with disability (PWD) can access free rapid antigen tests (RAT) through the Victorian Government Disability Liaison Officer service.
How people with disability can access free rapid antigen tests
Source: Aged Care News – Bianca Roberts
On the surface, there has been progress.
According to a new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) titled Younger people in residential aged care, the number of Australians aged under 65 living in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) fell by 20 per cent from almost 4600 in September 2020 to around 3700 in September 2021.
Source: Disability Support Guide – Anna Christian
A newly released report shows the Government is still short of its target to have no one younger than 45 living in nursing homes, and no one younger than 65 entering aged care homes, by 2022.
The Summer Foundation’s Information Service and Lived Experience Advisor, Emma Gee, chats with one of the organisation’s Lived Experience Facilitators, Shanais Nielsen, about the best ways to plan, navigate, stay positive and up-to-date in this COVID world.
Helen has been a long-time contributor to the work of the Summer Foundation. She shares her lived experience of disability in an effort to create change. Helen worked with a team to create resources for people who are thinking of moving out of aged care.
Source: ABC News | Author: Nas Campanella
Almost 4,000 young Australians with disability live in aged care too, and advocates say a broken system is preventing any progress on finding them somewhere else to live.
They’re hoping new tools to support people to make the transition will help to avoid a life of isolation.
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It really has been such a pleasure speaking with George Taleporos in his Reasonable and Necessary podcast, discussing such a relevant and important issue. COVID-19 will probably affect us all, or at least someone close to us.
Welcome to our last edition for 2021. We celebrate the significant amount of critical work that has been done toward ending the need for younger people with disability to live in aged care; in what have been challenging circumstances over this past year. As we open up and resume face-to-face engagement, we look forward to also carrying over the benefits and efficiencies we’ve honed over the past almost 2 years of working with COVID-19 disruptions.
The Summer Foundation’s Board renewal process continued with new appointments and planned resignations in November.
The successes, challenges and new opportunities from the 2020/21 financial year are highlighted in our latest Annual Report.
It shows the progress of the Summer Foundation against our key areas of focus including:
- Building the capacity of key service providers, including support coordinators, hospital staff, allied health professionals, SDA and support providers, and many others
- Developing an evidence base for potential solutions that will ensure young people with disability have choice and control over their housing and support
- Building the capacity of people with disability around housing and support options and housing pathways
On-site shared support (OSS) provides a significant opportunity for people with disability living in Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) apartments to increase control over their housing and support options and to lower the cost of their support.
Our UpSkill team has developed a new guide to delivering support coordination to people with complex needs.
The Summer Foundation was the proud promoter behind the Million Dollar Vax competition that received over 2.7 million entries in October. The aim was to increase the rate of vaccination nationally to reduce the burden on our healthcare systems and reduce the risk of infection to the most vulnerable in our community including people with disability. The campaign targeted regions with low vaccination rates.
Andrew, who is 49 years old, has been living in aged care in Tasmania for 4 years.
The Summer Foundation’s Housing Hub team will soon pilot a support coordination service that will specialise in developing housing evidence for Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) eligibility.
The Summer Foundation is pleased to support the Australian Disability Strategy 2021-2031. The Strategy, launched today on the Disability Gateway, prioritises the commitment to improve the lives of people with disability by all governments – Australian, state, territory and local.
Today is United Nations International Day of People with Disabilities. Today promotes understanding of disability issues and supports the dignity, rights and wellbeing of people with disability now and in the future. The theme of today is, “leadership and participation of persons with disabilities towards an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-Covid-19-world”.
Minister for Families and Social Services, Anne Ruston said ‘People with disability deserve to have the same as any other person and this ten year framework sets out our priorities as a nation for the 4.4 million Australians who live with disability’. The Australian Government is supporting the Australian Disability Strategy with an investment of $250 million.
The Strategy aims to improve the lives of people with disability across 6 priority outcome areas.
- Employment and financial security
- Inclusive homes and communities
- Safety, rights and justice
- Personal and community support
- Health and wellbeing
- Community attitudes
The Summer Foundation focuses on supporting people with disability with complex support needs and works to ensure no younger person under the age of 65 is forced to live in aged care. The Australian Disability Strategy aims to increase the availability of affordable housing, ensure housing is accessible and that people with disability have choice and control about where they live, who they live with and how they live. Additionally, that people with disability can access the supports they need to live well, delivered in a way which best meets their individual needs.
The rights of people with disability must be promoted upheld and protected. We are pleased to see this as a central principal of the Australian Disability Strategy.
The Strategy re-establishes Australia’s commitment to people with disability and provides the vision for an inclusive Australian society that ensures people with disability can fulfil their potential, as equal members of the community.
The Summer Foundation would like to see the implementation of the Strategy drive opportunities for people with disability, to lead and direct the achievement of outcomes, and play a significant role in shaping the success of the Strategy. The Strategy endeavours to facilitate greater community participation for people with disability and provide the opportunity to ensure they can decide how they live their lives. It is important that adequate funding continues to be provided to support the achievement of the Strategy over the next 10 years.
More than 330 people logged in to our 10th Annual Public Forum on 4 November. Reaching Towards Success – Closing the door to aged care for young people discussed the progress being made to end the need for younger people to live in aged care, as well as the barriers that remain.
Meet Kate, she has been living with MS for 26 years. She writes about her experience and explains why International Day of People with Disability is important.
Meet Jono. Jono’s journey to SDA has taught him you have to fight not only for what you require but also for what you deserve. Read about his housing journey in the Summer Foundation Annual Report.
The Summer Foundation’s board renewal process continued with new appointments and planned resignations at the AGM and Board meeting.
After many years’ service, both Professor Jacinta Douglas and Jason Chequer have stepped down from the board. Jacinta and Jason have both made enormous contributions to the work of the Summer Foundation.
The Summer Foundation’s Curator, Gina Fall, chats with Helen Burt about her work in a Summer Foundation codesign project. Helen has been a long-time contributor to the work of the Summer Foundation. She shares her lived experience of disability in an effort to create change. Recently, Helen has been working with a team to create resources for people thinking about moving out of aged care.
Individualised living arrangements are as unique as a fingerprint – at this recorded webinar we discuss how they can work to give people the opportunity to live the way they want.
At this webinar, you hear from Ned, who recently moved out of his family home and is living with 2 supportive housemates. You learn about Ned’s home, his living arrangement and learn about how NDIS participants and their supporters can get started with their own unique arrangements.
Many people with disability need support to live independently in the community, but don’t want to live in a group home. At this webinar you can build your understanding of individualised living, learn how the principles of person-centred planning together with the opportunities of the NDIS help create a way forward.
This webinar was delivered live on Monday 11 October 2021.
About UpSkill: UpSkill is a Summer Foundation program that offers professional development to support coordinators and NDIS allied health professionals so people with complex needs can be supported by skilled professionals to live well in the community. Find out more at: https://summerfoundation.org.au/project/upskill/
About Housing Hub: The Housing Hub is a website that lists over 1,500 accessible houses, apartments and other properties that may be suitable for people with disability to rent or buy. It is an initiative of the Summer Foundation.
About Bridge It: Bridge It Homes Connect – creative paths to safe, connected homes for people living with disability.
The Summer Foundation’s Information Service and Lived Experience Advisor, Emma Gee, again chats with one of the organisation’s Lived Experience Facilitators, Shanais Nielsen, about coming out of lockdown and planning to live in the new ‘COVID’ world.
Earlier this year, Lu and Gina met Ned, his housemates and his family to capture their experience living in an ‘individualised living option’ (ILO) homeshare arrangement.
Lu caught up with the housemates recently to see how it is all going.
It has been a few months since we met you and filmed your life in action, how has it been going since?
Ned – Wow it’s been a long time since we’ve met you. I have enjoyed hanging out with you guys [Duncan and Nic], we have been hanging out lots, laughing, joking, eating and watching tv shows together. I have been listening to lots of music and hanging out with all of my support workers. That’s the main thing I have been doing throughout the week.
Nic – I have been going well. I have enjoyed the time I have spent with the other guys since we filmed the footage. Although we have been quite busy lately, it has been great to get to know the guys and help each other.
Duncan – It has been going good, I feel like we are getting to know each other more, becoming more comfortable and really settling into a nice rhythm, despite the recent lockdown.
How did it feel sharing your experience?
Ned – I enjoyed sharing my experience. I liked doing it.
Nic – It felt great to be able to share our experience with other people that may be looking for similar situations to us. I hope that by sharing my experience I can help show people it is possible.
Duncan – It was an interesting experience, if not slightly daunting. However, it was great to be able to get the people from the Summer Foundation, who were super friendly and encouraging in their facilitating throughout the whole experience.
What do you hope others will learn from watching these clips?
Ned – That they can have their own house in a similar situation in the future if they want, too.
Nic – I hope others will learn that there are more living options for people living with a disability and their parents. No one should have to live with their parents or in a care facility for their whole lives. I also hope I can show young people how awesome it is to help others and the friendships you make along the way when doing so.
Duncan – I hope they will get an idea of our experience, which will help guide them in their decisions and opportunities for potential living arrangements.
Watch the clips on the Housing Hub website here.
Want to share your experience? Email peersupport@summerfoundation.org.au
Welcome to our spring update. It has been a particularly busy and satisfying few months for us.