Witnessing how her young patients with acute brain injury were put into aged care, Dr Di Winkler AM used the power of research to fundamentally re-shape how we think about housing for people with a disability.
Establishing the Summer Foundation as a not-for-profit in 2006, Di initially wanted the organisation to provide high-quality information – for people at risk of moving into the aged care system, and for their families, who may not be aware of alternative support options.
“I wanted to help people make informed choices but also to connect people. I was really struck that many families felt like they were the only ones in that situation, that they were facing the choice to move their adult child into aged care.”
Since that time, the organisation has grown to become much more.