Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Firstly, I congratulate the member for Melbourne on bringing this motion to the parliament. I believe that many members on both sides of this House have been concerned about this issue for a very long time. I find it hard to believe that in a country like Australia we can sit back and be satisfied with letting young people with disabilities rot away in nursing homes, as has been the case.

I think no issue has created more angst than housing young people with disabilities in nursing homes; such accommodation is inappropriate for them. The member for Canning has stated that people with disabilities can get suitable care in a nursing home, but I would put very strongly that they do not get suitable care in such homes. Their physical needs are taken care of, but ‘care’ is a lot more than just making sure that a person’s incontinence aids are taken care of and that a quadriplegic is treated medically. I argue very strongly that ‘care’ means ‘appropriate care’, which also relates to quality of life.

I know that many members of this House have been approached by the families of young people with disabilities and I find that heart wrenching. Some of those families are managing to sustain caring for their children in their homes but, as they get older and sicker, that becomes harder and harder. Recently, in my electorate, the mother of a young person with a disability, whom I know, died. In the period leading up to her death, the one thing that concerned this mother more than anything was that her precious daughter—her daughter was so precious to her—would receive the necessary appropriate care after her death. Luckily, a suitable home was found for her daughter—and it is not in a nursing home. She is one of the lucky ones. I also know that nursing home staff are very concerned about the fact that these young people do not get the kind of care and stimulation that they need.

I would very much like to acknowledge that the COAG agreement last week is a very positive step forward; $24 million over five years to ease the crisis of young people in nursing homes is a good step forward. Another positive step is the fact that the states and the Commonwealth are working together. This will end the blame game. I do not think anything can be gained by federal members of parliament blaming the states and by members of the state parliaments blaming the Commonwealth. There are some things that we really need to work together on, and I believe that this can act as a model for other areas. It is a recognition that both the states and the Commonwealth have a responsibility to these young people. It is a small step, but more is needed.

I note that a report was leaked on 10 February, ahead of the COAG meeting. It commented that expectations will need to be carefully managed and public presentations will need to clearly state objectives that accurately reflect the likely outcomes of a CAP program. This leaked document goes on to say that expectations should not be raised. That is because only one out of every six young persons in a nursing home will benefit from this program.

I think we have to do better. It is the first step, but our young people who are in nursing homes certainly deserve a lot more than they have had in the past and a lot more than has already been agreed to by COAG. I have worked with people with disabilities, and I know that at certain times the only appropriate housing for young people with disabilities is in a nursing home—appropriate in terms of medical care but not in terms of the quality of life they live. (Time expired)

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