To achieve change in policy and practice in relation to young people in aged care, we are currently focusing on the following strategic priority areas:
NDIS
HOUSING
COMMUNITY & PRIMARY HEALTH
PATHWAYS HOME
NDIS
Ensure that young people in residential aged care get access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme
The Summer Foundation is conducting action research to measure outcomes and identify any gaps, issues or barriers to young people in aged care getting access to services funded by NDIS in the trial sites. We are working with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to streamline the NDIS registration process of young people currently in aged care and those at risk of entering nursing homes. Our target group requires information, resources and support to access the services they desperately need.
Read more about our current work in this area >
HOUSING
Increase the range and scale of housing
We do not expect many people to move out of aged care in the NDIS trial sites because of the lack of appropriate housing and support options. Rather than continuing to build segregated and specialist accommodation, housing for people with disability needs to be integrated into mainstream housing strategies – this will create the scale and range of housing options we need.
Read more about our current work in this area >
COMMUNITY AND PRIMARY HEALTH
Increase access to proactive health services
Increased access to proactive health services that sustain community living will enhance the health and wellbeing of people with disability and complex needs, and reduce their lifetime care costs. The Summer Foundation will build an evidence base and support innovative service design for proactive community health outreach that supports the lifelong needs of this group. We will also document the importance of slow stream rehabilitation services so that people with severe acquired brain injury have the time they need to demonstrate their potential before a decision is made about their housing and support options.
Read more about our current work in this area >
PATHWAYS HOME
Improve the interface between the NDIS, health and aged care gateway
Once in aged care, young people lose skills and their social networks diminish. Most (59%) young people are admitted to an acute or rehabilitation hospital before their first admission to a nursing home. We will work to improve the interface between health, Aged Care Assessment Services (ACAS) and the NDIS in order to minimise new admissions of young people to aged care.
Read more about our current work in this area >
The way we work
The key aim of the Summer Foundation is to change human service policy and practice related to young people in aged care. The Summer Foundation uses a range of tools and develops resources to affect this change.
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A collaborative approach
The Summer Foundation is not able to implement all of these strategies in isolation – we collaborate with other organisations, government, people with disability and their families to achieve this. Supporting, informing and empowering people with disability and their families is critical to resolving the issue of young people in aged care. We strive for innovation by collaborating across sectors and disciplines, and taking calculated risks to create positive change.
View our Strategic Plan 2021-2025 >