FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                 DATE 04/06/10
 
Younger People with Disability in Residential Aged Care program.
Labor Senator Helen Polley welcomes the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report Younger People with Disability in Residential Aged Care program (YPIRAC): Report on the 2008-09 Minimum Data Set. Senator Polley acknowledges that younger people should be accommodated with their peers, rather than having the only option to go into nursing homes.
 
“Under the National Disability Agreement, the Australian Government will support people with disability that are under the age of 65, with the Australian Government contributing $122 million from 2006-2011 to the YPIRAC program as a part of this agreement,” Senator Polley said.
 
Senator Polley supported comments made by Minister Macklin that this funding will provide incentives to provide higher levels of appropriate accommodation and services for younger people with disabilities.
 
“Younger people who have a disability need to have the accommodation and services available to them to live a happy, comfortable and dignified life, as close as possible to anyone else of a similar age.
 
“I also welcome the consultation process with all stakeholders to ensure continued improvement for our young disabled people,” said Senator Polley.
 
The Rudd Labor Government continues to make progress in the disability sector.