By clicking the Listen button the text will be read out
in full. To stop this, click the button again. To listen to certain parts of the text,
simply highlight the text to hear the audio. More
information
Source: Probono Australia | Author: Di Winkler & Peter Mulherin
Australia’s building ministers have decided to include accessible design features in the National Construction Code. Di Winkler and Peter Mulherin look at what that means.
From September 2022, new homes in Australia will include accessible design features, after a meeting on 30 April saw building ministers decide to include minimum accessibility standards in the National Construction Code (NCC).
Source: Probono Australia | Author: Di Winkler & Peter Mulherin
This Friday, Australia’s Building Ministers will choose whether accessibility standards will be voluntary or mandatory in the 2022 National Construction Code. Di Winkler and Peter Mulherin explain why mandatory standards will future-proof Australia’s housing for coming generations.
The recently released findings of the Aged Care Royal Commission represent an opportunity to achieve generational reform for older Australians, as the provision of aged care services shift from institutionalised care, to care at home.
Source: ABC Radio National with Fran Kelly | Reporter: Eleni Psaltis | Image: James Hancock
Currently there are more than 4,300 younger Australians living in an aged care facility; most of them are with disability.
But the Aged Care Royal Commission says by 2025, no one under the age of 65 should be in these facilities.
Featured:
Carol Littley, mother of Kirby Littley who lived in an aged care facility in her twenties
Dr Bronwyn Morkham, National Director of the Young People in Nursing Homes National Alliance
Stuart Robert, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Richard Colbeck, Aged Care Services Minister
Dr Di Winkler, Summer Foundation CEO
Lisa Corcoran, former aged care resident
Source: Australian Ageing Agenda | Author: Di Winkler
Our ageing population demands more accessible housing, writes Dr Di Winkler.
The final report from the royal commission into aged care will be released this week. This report will show that institutional housing for the elderly is not working and include a range of measures to address the neglect they have found.
Source: Probono Australia | Author: Di Winkler and Peter Mulherin
Only a mandatory approach to accessibility standards will future-proof Australia’s housing for coming generations, and cater to the demands of an ageing population, write Dr Di Winkler and Dr Peter Mulherin outlining the Building Better Homes Campaign.
Source: ProBono | Author: Dr Di Winkler and Alecia Rathbone
People with high or complex disability support needs have traditionally had extremely limited options when it comes to finding somewhere to live. The growing specialist disability accommodation market is beginning to change that, write Dr Di Winkler and Alecia Rathbone.
Source: The Guardian | Author: Caro Llewellyn
My childhood was spent navigating my father’s disability. Then I was told I was facing the possibility of life in a wheelchair myself. The thing about disability is it usually doesn’t only affect the person living it. It changes the lives of children, parents, friends and partners.
Source: Pro Bono | Author: Dr Di Winker & Dr Peter Mulherin
Dr Di Winkler and Dr Peter Mulherin explain the Specialist Disability Accommodation market and why disability housing is well placed to leverage the private capital available through impact investment.
Source: Australian Ageing Agenda | Author: Amelia Condi
There’s support for aged care providers as they transition to NDIS and start providing more choice and control for people with disability, writes Amelia Condi.
[button icon= “fa-laptop” text=”View online ” link=”https://www.australianageingagenda.com.au/contributors/a-new-era-begins-for-younger-people-in-aged-care/”][/button]Source: Probono Australia | Author: Di Winkler
Dr Di Winkler AM, CEO and founder of the Summer Foundation, takes a look at the new Younger People in Residential Aged Care Strategy and reflects on what success will look like.
[button icon= “fa-laptop” text=”View online ” link=”https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2020/10/ypirac-is-a-wicked-problem-that-can-only-be-solved-by-working-across-sectors/”][/button]It sounds like a simple thing for most of us — an independent life, living in a house that is set up for our purpose.
But that is not the case for thousands of people living with disabilities. Finding a house fit for their needs is not always so simple.
[button icon=” fa-laptop ” text=” view online ” link=”https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-22/disability-housing-accommodation-ndis-ipswich-queensland/12364150″][/button]
Source: SBS News
Sam Petersen is one of many Australians living with disability who has difficulties accessing personal protective equipment, such as face masks. As Australia prepares to lift restrictions, she’s concerned people with disabilities are being left behind.
[button icon= “fa-laptop” text=”View online ” link=”https://www.sbs.com.au/news/this-woman-is-concerned-people-living-with-disabilities-will-be-left-behind-after-covid-19″][/button]
Days after a disability worker in Victoria died after contracting COVID-19, advocates are calling for urgent action to ensure the safety of Australians living with a disability who are particularly vulnerable to the disease, and their carers.
[button icon= “fa-laptop” text=”View online ” link=”https://amp.sbs.com.au/v1/article/calls-for-australia-s-disability-carers-to-get-the-same-coronavirus-protections-as-aged-care-workers/eb30cdd3-e010-4c2e-84ca-a56c25c95f95?amp=1 “][/button]
The pipeline of new homes developed with National Disability Insurance Scheme funding has jumped by 50 per cent over the past 12 months, the latest report by the Summer Foundation and Social Ventures Australia into the sector shows.
[button icon= “fa-laptop” text=”View online ” link=”https://www.afr.com/property/commercial/private-sector-flocks-to-specialist-disability-accommodation-20200326-p54e1i”][/button]
The National Disability Insurance Agency has flagged a new strategy to reduce the number of younger people in nursing homes, conceding more work is needed even as figures show a slight fall in the December quarter.
[button icon= “fa-laptop” text=”View online ” link=”https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/progress-made-to-get-younger-people-out-of-nursing-homes-20200211-p53zsl.html?”][/button]
Not-for-profits need more than just a successful pilot program to influence government and achieve systemic change, a sector leader believes.
Dr Di Winkler is CEO and founder of Summer Foundation, an NFP looking to stop young people with disability from being forced to live in nursing homes.
She spoke to Pro Bono News about the foundation’s advocacy and systems change role in the issue, explaining that it took a lot of work to take a pilot program to scale.
[button icon= “fa-laptop” text=”View online ” link=”https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2020/02/why-nfps-need-to-look-beyond-successful-pilot-programs/ “][/button]
New artist impressions have been released, depicting the final product of a multimillion-dollar development supporting disability needs in Mt Colah.
It comes as the community advocates for more accessible housing and infrastructure in the Hornsby Shire.
[button icon= “fa-laptop” text=”View online ” link=”https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/hornsby-advocate/first-look-at-stateoftheart-mt-colah-disability-housing/news-story/c2ccff3ee35568b76a9b8a539ce132a7″][/button]
[button icon=”fa-file-text-o” text=”View PDF ” link=”https://summerfoundation.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/First_look_at_state-of-the-art_Mt_Colah_disability_housing___News_Local-2.pdf”][/button]
As 2019 draws to a close, we look back at five major reforms that were made possible only through strong charitable advocacy.
Advocacy is an essential function of charities and a vital component of Australian democracy.
But it is an area sometimes misunderstood by the public and an activity that has come under attack from governments in recent years.
[button icon= “fa-laptop” text=”View online ” link=”https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2019/12/five-times-australian-charities-made-a-difference-through-advocacy-in-2019/”][/button]
Colin Hiscoe has a simple request for the disability royal commission – please help.
Mr Hiscoe has begged the royal commission to help the people stuck with no voice and little options in disability group homes.
[button icon= “fa-laptop” text=”View online ” link=”https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/plea-to-help-people-in-disability-homes/news-story/5de66f1f7918e4ba9f7d949ef40338dd”][/button]
Ahead of giving evidence to the Disability Royal Commission hearing in Melbourne, the Summer Foundation’s Dr George Taleporos spoke to Every Australian Counts.
Dr Taleporos outlined what he planned to tell the Commission – and what he thinks needs to change when it comes to housing for people with disability.
[button icon= “fa-laptop” text=”View online ” link=”https://www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au/opinion/housing-for-people-with-disabilities-what-needs-to-happen/”][/button]
After spending three years and eight months in an aged care facility, Mario Amato managed to leave and move in to his own unit.
The Morrison government has pledged there will be no young people with disability living in residential aged care by 2022.
In its response to the aged care royal commission’s interim report, the government vowed to ensure there were no people under 65 entering aged care by 2022, no people under 45 living in aged care by 2022, and no people under 65 living in aged care by 2025.
[button icon= “fa-laptop” text=”View online ” link=”https://probonoaustralia.com.au/news/2019/11/government-vows-to-remove-young-people-with-disability-from-aged-care/”][/button]
[lead]The Summer Foundation, the Young People In Nursing Homes National Alliance, Youngcare, Synapse, the Specialist Disability Accommodation Alliance and Aged & Community Services Australia have released a joint statement:[/lead]
Organisations supporting young people living in nursing homes have welcomed the Morrison Government’s commitment to work to the targets endorsed by the Aged Care Royal Commission that will see no younger person enter residential aged care by 2022 and no one under 65 years in aged care by 2025.
“This is an important step forward and we applaud the government for its commitment to these new targets,” said YPINH Alliance head, Dr Bronwyn Morkham. “The targets reflect the urgency of this problem – and they are certainly achievable – but it’s essential that we start now.
“We’re ready to work with the government to develop and implement its new strategy. We look forward to seeing more detail about these new initiatives, to make sure the strategy delivers on its promise.”
“We’re pleased to see that improved data gathering and detailed analyses of this cohort will form a central part of this work,” said Summer Foundation CEO Dr Di Winkler.
“We also welcome the government’s decision to implement a joint agency approach. Too many younger people end up in aged care because they fall through cracks between the health and disability systems. Bringing all the relevant agencies together is the only way we can stop this from continuing to happen. State health systems are key to this work and we look forward to being partners in this new strategy.”
Youngcare CEO Anthony Ryan said that developing a database of new and existing housing options will support investment in accessible housing.
“Helping investors better understand the needs of these younger people is critical to developing the housing and care options they need,” he said.
“The rapid availability of interim housing solutions is also a priority to stop younger people going into aged care.”
ACSA CEO Pat Sparrow also welcomed the announcement but called on the Morrison Government to ensure that those younger people also receive the level of support they require while they continue to live in an aged care home. “There is often a funding disparity that disadvantages those people in aged care. ACSA believes that regardless of your age or where you reside you should get the level of support required to meet needs and to have a good quality of life.”
All organisations agree that funding is needed for individual advocacy to prevent young people going into aged care as well as help them make the transition back to life in the community.
“These are people needing multiple supports from different services and we need new roles that can work closely with each younger person and the service systems they need to make their transition to life in the community a success,” said Dr Morkham.
Yesterday the Australian Government handed down its response to the interim report from the Aged Care Royal Commission, which labelled the treatment in aged care as a shocking tale of neglect.
Interview starts at 1:37.20
Featured: Carolyn Finis, Summer Foundation
[button icon= “fa-microphone” text=”Listen online ” link=”https://www.abc.net.au/radio/melbourne/programs/breakfast/breakfast/11719824″][/button]
The Prime Minister says he’s delivering “lasting change for a new generation”, as he’s announced the Federal Government’s response to the damning interim report of the Aged Care Royal Commission, but that’s quickly been dismissed by some advocates.
