This document is a submission made in 2015 by the APS to the Senate Inquiry regarding the adequacy of existing residential care arrangements for young people with severe physical, mental or intellectual disabilities in Australia.
This detailed submission draws attention to the general agreement that existing residential care arrangements for young people with severe physical, mental or intellectual disabilities are inadequate. A key issue is the lack of alternative residential care options available for young people with severe disabilities.
The submission also notes that the quality of residential care, when it does exist, is variable. From a psychological perspective, the APS considers adequate residential arrangements to be those that promote good quality of life and wellbeing. As such, regardless of where a person lives, residents should be enabled to achieve emotional, physical and material wellbeing as well as having opportunities for age-appropriate interpersonal relations, personal development, self-determination, and social inclusion.
Specifically, the APS highlights the need for more accessible and affordable housing options, along with services that create pathways back to the community, such as slow stream rehabilitation.
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