Australians are fortunate to have a world class health system that enables those with chronic and progressive illness to live longer and with a better quality of life; and access to medical technologies for the catastrophically injured that now save lives where once they would not.

Yet the net result of these advances in healthcare and technology has been the growth of a new group of younger people who’ve had an able bodied life before illness or injury has left them significantly disabled and with life time care and support needs. 

Until medical science can restore broken bodies and minds to full health, this group will continue to grow, resulting in increasing numbers of young Australians with high and complex support needs looking to health and disability systems to deliver their lifetime care and support. 

The YPINH growth group

Largely comprised of people with acquired disabilities, the YPINH group presents new and different challenges to state disability systems that have developed around the different, less intense needs of those born with disability.  They have, for example, complex health and support needs that arise at short notice and require intense and immediate responses.

It is the inability of existing disability, health and community services systems to respond proactively to this group that has led to the YPINH problem.
 
The complexity of their support needs means that the YPINH group requires an integrated and ongoing response from a number of previously disparate areas of the service system.  These include acute care, rehabilitation and allied health services from the health system; a range of disability services including in-home care, shared supported accommodation and respite; as well as aids and equipment and nursing services.

Tying all these together is a challenge for even the most skilled case manager.  Yet Australians with disability need information, support and planning assistance to ensure changing needs and circumstances are addressed in a proactive and timely manner. 

Shaping the Future Today offers stakeholders the opportunity to influence the COAG initiative’s focus over its remaining term and deliver outcomes that will benefit all Australians with disability.