Activ, in Partnership with Bethanie, hosted an industry first workshop on Friday, November 3 at Frasers Suites. The workshop aimed to develop real, practical solutions that addresses the concerns and issues people living with disability face as their funding ceases when they turn 65.
Here are the solutions that the groups came up with.
We’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions so let us know what you think by emailing communications@activ.asn.au or by messaging our Facebook page @ActivFoundation.
Group 1
Solution: New funding model
The group looked into developing a different funding model where the customer is always in control and they get to choose their service providing.
The opportunity:
- Funds come from a trust which is funded from a few sources including renewable energy, partnerships, philanthropic, superannuation companies, Lotterywest and fundraising.
- Solar power as a source of income for both the customer to receive discounted power bills and for the service provider to recoup the capital outlay by charging a small premium to the customer, so that both parties have reduced costs.
- Customers can also opt to pay directly into the trust as an alternate form of insurance or investment.
The benefits:
- The trust arrangement integrates well in the insurance model of NDIS, where trust payments act to ‘top up’ NDIS payments where customers need additional services and supports.
- The NDIS is still there, and customers can still get funded, however if their circumstances change, the customer can access the trust for an additional payment so they can live the life they choose.
Groups 2 and 3
Solution: Multi-generational community village
A community village that looks to provide support for people within the disability and aged care sectors, with a multitude of opportunities not restrictive to people who are 65 years or older. Groups 2 and 3 looked at developing a community village in a 4 way partnership between, Activ, Bethanie, Universities and the Building sector.
The opportunity:
- The new and innovative village will provide accommodation and lifestyle solutions in a new multigenerational approach to disability housing.
- Disability students, aged care and uni students are all co-located together and are supported in this vibrant new community.
- Corporates and individuals can provide sponsorship for the facility.
- Residents can utilise existing funding to support ongoing care needs. The challenge lies in getting the building layout right.
The benefits:
- This concept will utilise customers living together and taking their money further than what it currently does.
- The community aspect is very important in bringing people together and keeping everyone engaged, giving them something to do and using the community to engage with them.
- From this concept customers will get support to age in place.
- Previously older Australians with disability had to endure higher living costs at the same time as they lost the disability funding – this solution will change this, by bringing costs down, utilising technology and the partnerships between the community and universities.