Young People in Nursing Homes National Alliance

There are over 6,500 young Australians now living in aged care nursing homes because they have nowhere else to go. Some of these young people are 10 years of age. There are many thousands more at risk of placement in aged care facilities because the accommodation and support they need does not exist.

Many have sustained catastrophic injuries in car accidents that have left them with acquired brain injuries or quadriplegia. Others have degenerative diseases like Multiple Sclerosis or Muscular Dystrophy.

The one thing all these young people share is the desire to recover their health and independence as much as possible and get on with their lives. But they can’t do this in an aged care facility.

Young disabled Australians with high or complex support needs must have the rehabilitation, accommodation and ongoing support they need to have ‘lives worth living’ in the community.

The Young People in Nursing Homes National Alliance works with young people living in aged care facilities, their families, friends and other stakeholders to develop the support services and accommodation young Australians with high or complex support needs require to pursue their lives in the community.

We work collaboratively with service providers in the aged care, disability, health, housing and community services sectors, and encourage a partnership approach to resolution of the issue by State and Commonwealth governments.

The National Alliance is committed to the development of choice in accommodation and support options and to supporting young people and their families in the exercise of that choice. We want young people living in nursing homes and their families to have

• a voice about where they want to live and how they want to be supported
• the capacity to participate in efforts to achieve this, and
• 'a place of the table', so they can be directly involved in the service development needed to have "lives worth living" in the community.

We work with federal, state and local governments to put in place the systemic changes needed to prevent more young Australians entering residential aged care settings in the future and supports the development of policy initiatives that promote the dignity, well being and independence of YPINH and their active participation in their communities.

The National Alliance has offices in every state and territory and a national office based in Victoria.

Unfortunately, our limited resources restrict our capacity to provide dedicated mentoring or volunteer opportunities.

We can, though, assist young people to become involved in a national campaign to correct this serious social injustice through meeting with and discussing the issue with their State and Federal MP’s; or generate or participate in fundraising opportunities.