The choice agenda in the Australian supported housing context: a timely reflection

Abstract

The last 30 years has seen significant developments in the Australian housing sector for people with disabilities. Despite much change in the sector, and advancements in disability services, the range of current supported housing options for younger Australian adults with a neurological disability remains vastly under-developed. This is despite a widely accepted and endorsed recognition that, as is the general population, people with all forms of disability have a right to housing of their choice. This paper presents a timely critique of the key actions made by the Australian disability and housing sectors and subsequently proposes a more informed approach to supported housing design and development: one that is based on a comprehensive understanding of consumer housing priorities and preferences, and is conducive to a person’s biopsychosocial health.

Keywords:

• housing policy
• housing design
• housing choice
• physical disability
• cognitive disability

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. For example, Australia’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (United Nations 2006), the National Disability Agreement (Council of Australian Governments 2012) [Commonwealth], the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 [Commonwealth], the Disability Services Act 1986 [Commonwealth], the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013 [Commonwealth], and the Guardianship and Administration Act 2000 [State of Queensland].

2. Deinstitutionalisation refers to the active removal of people with disabilities from large institutional facilities into the community since the 1980s. Although not discussed here, deinstitutionalisation led to major reforms in Australian community residential services and supports.

Additional information

Funding

This work is funded by The Department of Science, IT, Innovation and the Arts (DSITIA) on behalf of the Queensland Government [grant number 42323] (Smart Futures Fellowship Program).