Time capsule marking start of independent lives for young MS sufferers

June 4, 1997

A time capsule marking a second chance at an independent life for seven young people with multiple sclerosis has been presented to Disability Services Minister Paul Omodei.

The 'New Future' time capsule, with papers detailing their hopes and aspirations for the future, is to be buried at the site of new, specially designed homes at Fern Road, Wilson.

Mr Omodei said the Fern River homes project would allow the seven young people to leave nursing homes, where they currently live, and return to the community, where they wanted to be.

He said the State Government had recognised that it was not acceptable for young people to live in nursing homes, which were geared for the needs of the elderly.

He said Fern River was part of the Disability Services Commission's 'Young People In Nursing Homes' project, which would provide community-based accommodation for 96 young people with conditions like multiple sclerosis and acquired brain injury by the year 2000.

"Multiple sclerosis strikes people in the prime of their lives and can have a devastating impact on them and their families," Mr Omodei said.

"Some people can no longer remain at home as they require a very high level of care and support, and in the past, these people have had to enter nursing homes.

"Thanks to a successful partnership between the Disability Services Commission, the Health Department, Homeswest, the Lotteries Commission and the Multiple Sclerosis Society, seven young people will have the opportunity to regain their independence and pick up the threads of their lives."

Health Minister Kevin Prince, who also attended the function at the MS Society's Centre in Wilson, said that the Health Department was co-operating fully in the project.

Over a five-year period, the Health Department would gradually transfer $6.1 million a year to the Disability Services Commission to provide care for the 96 young people in their new accommodation.

Mr Omodei said that for the MS Society's housing project, the Disability Services Commission provided a total of $370,000 for the land and establishment costs, with a further $460,000 of recurrent funding to meet the needs of residents and maintain the complex.

The residents were consulted during the planning stage and had contributed greatly to the final design.

"The units are being custom-built by Homeswest to suit the individual needs and abilities of the residents," the Minister said.

"Each unit will have a system of environmental controls which will allow the residents to regulate the heating, switch on the TV and even open the front door - choices the rest of us take for granted but which are very important for them.

"The units will also help families reunite as they have extra bedrooms to allow children and other family members to stay whenever they want."

Mr Omodei said the residents were expected to move into their new homes in September.