Premier opens Queensland's first Youngcare apartments

Premier Anna Bligh today officially opened the Youngcare Apartments in Jindalee,
Queensland’s first accommodation project for younger people with complex disability and heath care needs.

Ms Bligh said thanks to the hard work of community organisations, government, business and the wider community, there was now a dedicated and age-appropriate place to live for younger people with a disability to live comfortably.

“Up until now, limited care options were available to younger people with complex disability needs, which meant they often entered residential aged care,” Ms Bligh said.

“Wesley Mission Brisbane and Youngcare have partnered to develop and operate the 16-bed Youngcare Apartments complex in Jindalee.

“It has 12 one-bedroom and two two-bedroom apartments that have been specially designed to offer individualised, flexible responses to the needs of younger people with high and complex support needs.

“Importantly, they have also been designed to allow residents to live as normal and comfortable a life as possible, with open-plan living and individual terraces or balconies to entertain visitors and room for guests to stay in separate overnight accommodation.”

On 14 August 2006, a Bilateral Agreement was signed between the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments to establish the Younger People in Residential Aged Care initiative in Queensland.

Ms Bligh said the Queensland Government had committed funding totalling $23.9 million towards the Younger People in Residential Aged Care initiative over a five-year period, with matched funding from the Commonwealth Government.

“Wesley Mission Brisbane has received $1.4 million in recurrent funding and $1.3 million in one-off funding towards the construction of the apartments, and to provide the ongoing support for 16 people living there, as part of the Younger People in Residential Aged Care initiative.

“Youngcare had been in charge of sponsorship and construction of the facility, while Wesley Mission is managing the provision of support services for residents.

“Youngcare has also been very successful gaining corporate and community support for this project, including significant financial contributions and in-kind donations.

“Just as important are Youngcare’s efforts to actively raise awareness of the needs of younger people living in aged-care facilities right across Australia.

Minister for Disability Services Lindy Nelson-Carr said one of the main aims of the initiative is to help younger people with a disability currently in residential aged care to – if they choose – move into more appropriate supported accommodation where possible.

Aged care into more appropriate forms of accommodation,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

“In addition, we are committed to enhancing the delivery of specialist disability services to those younger people with a disability who choose to remain in residential aged care – or where it is the only available option.”

The first group of people will move into the Youngcare Apartments this month.

People who want to live in the Youngcare Apartments must be eligible for support under the Younger People in Residential Aged Care initiative. They must initially register their interest with Disability Services Queensland and be determined to be eligible and within the target group for the initiative.

Media Contact:
Premier’s Office: 3224 4500
Minister Nelson-Carr’s Office 3235 4280