On 3 December 2014, the Senate referred the following matter to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report:

The adequacy of existing residential care arrangements available for young people with severe physical, mental or intellectual disabilities in Australia

The Terms of Reference are:

1. the estimated number and distribution of young people in care in the aged care system in Australia, and the number of young people who require care but are not currently receiving care;
2. short- and long-term trends in relation to the number of young people being cared for within the aged care system; 
3. the health and support pathways available to young people with complex needs; 
4. the appropriateness of the aged care system for care of young people with serious and/or permanent mental or physical disabilities; 
5. alternative systems of care available in federal, state and territory jurisdictions for young people with serious and/or permanent mental, physical or intellectual disabilities; 
6. the options, consequences and considerations of the de-institutionalisation of young people with serious and/or permanent mental, physical or intellectual disabilities; 
7. what Australian jurisdictions are currently doing for young people with serious and/or permanent mental, physical or intellectual disabilities, and what they intend to do differently in the future; 
8. the impact of the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme on the ability of young people in aged care facilities to find more appropriate accommodation;
9. state and territory activity in regard to the effectiveness of the Council of Australian Governments’ Younger People in Residential Aged Care initiatives in improving outcomes for young people with serious and/or permanent mental, physical or intellectual disabilities, since the Commonwealth’s contribution to this program has been rolled into the National Disability Agreement and subsequent developments in each jurisdiction; and 
10. any related matters.

The committee is to report by 30 June 2015. Submissions were sought by 6 February 2015, however the committee has agreed to continue accepting submissions past this date.

If you would prefer your submission not to be published or for your name to be withheld from publication, please indicate this in your submission. Please note that your contact details will not be published.