MORE COOPERATION AND INNOVATION REQUIRED

The Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care and Tasmanian Senator Helen Polley, and Tasmanian Senator Catryna Bilyk, attended the Senate Community Affairs Committee public hearing into young people in residential care today.

Senator Hellen Polley has been keeping a close eye on the outcomes of the hearings, particularly given her role as the Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care.

The Committee has heard evidence that people as young as 23 are being housed in some aged care facilities, and six thousand young Australians with disabilities are living in aged care homes nationally.

“The Liberal State Government and Liberal Federal Government should be working together provide more innovative approaches for accommodating young people in aged care facilities”, Senator Polley said.

“They should be investing more in infrastructure and training for the residential care sector. Someone needs to take responsibility”. Senator Polley added.

Senator Bilyk said that the evidence given by the proponents of the Rowallan Park development in Kingston demonstrated that there are innovative approaches to providing care to young people with disability.

“I am pleased that the former Labor Government, through the Supported Accommodation Innovation Fund, was able to support innovative approaches to residential care, like Rowallan Park,” Senator Bilyk said.

“Unfortunately, too many young people are still stuck in aged care facilities that do not meet their needs.”
SENATOR HELEN POLLEY Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Aged Care Labor Senator for Tasmania SENATOR CATRYNA BILYK Deputy Opposition Whip in the Senate Labor Senator for Tasmania