All States now on board to help young disabled people in aged care facilities

All States and Territories have now signed bilateral agreements with the Australian Government to help young people with a disability move out of residential aged care facilities.

Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Mal Brough, today welcomed the signing by Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory as the remaining two jurisdictions.

"I welcome the commitment by the governments of Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory and look forward to working with them to see this plan become a reality," Mr Brough said.

"For too long the only long-term residential care available to young people with a disability has been in aged care facilities. Now young people across Australia will now see an improvement in the choices of care available to them.

"This program will reduce the number of younger people with a disability in residential aged care and will initially target those under 50 years of age.

"The program may also provide improved services to those who continue to stay in residential aged care and additional disability support services to assist those at risk of entering aged care."

Agreements with the States follow on from a decision at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in February last year to fund and develop a $244 million program over the next five years.

"The responsibility for accommodation will rest with the States and Territories who will also manage the program on a day-to-day basis, subject to the signed agreements with the Australian Government," Mr Brough said.

National Alliance of Young People In Nursing Homes head, Dr Bronwyn Morkham, welcomed the move by governments to work together to get young people out of aged care facilities.

"We need to get people back into the community and out of nursing homes where they do not belong," Dr Morkham said.