ABC Radio: Paul Healey on Scope Disability House Closures

At the start of August, State Secretary of the Health and Community Services Union (HACSU), Paul Healey, was live on ABC Mornings with Rafael Epstein to talk about Disability Provider Scope's announcement of nine Disability House closures. Since then the number has jumped to a staggering 24 reported house closures at Scope – ripping community and stability away from vulnerable participants and their Support Workers.

8 years ago, HACSU members secured a subsidy funded by the State government to protect their hard-fought-for wages and conditions – it's coming to an end on 31 December, and house closures are just one of the harrowing results.

The Disability sector is in crisis. HACSU members and officials are urgently calling for firm commitments from the Victorian Government for funding arrangements to support housing stability and prevent erosion of the sector.

580 group homes could close, leaving participants with nowhere to turn to. When will the government stop leaving Disability behind and see the urgency of this crisis!

Listen to the interview here.