
The Y-House Foundation was founded in 2010 to support young people living in, or at risk of living in, aged care.
At age 18, Georgia Retallick started Y-House after seeing a TV interview with a young girl named Angela Barker. At age 16 Angela was the victim of a violent attack from her boyfriend that left her with a severe acquired brain injury. Due to a lack of ongoing care and rehabilitation options Angela was forced to live in aged care.
The most concerning idea of young people being in nursing homes is the rate of deterioration that they face in such an unsuitable environment. After initial research it became clear to Georgia that there was a gap in the system. It appeared that young people suffering from traumatic brain and spinal injuries as well as early-onset degenerative diseases were not only unsupported in their rehabilitation and recovery, but forced to live in aged care facilities due to a lack of age appropriate care options.
There are a number of fantastic organisations offering supported accommodation and care to young people with disabilities. However, without facilities to deal with the initial stages of care and rehabilitation after injury or diagnosis these opportunities are not able to be utilised further down the track.
When it was noted that there was insufficient government funding in this area and not only a lack of options but also support, Georgia decided to start her own organisation. What started initially as a housing project has now turned into a thriving organisation with multiple programs dedicated to supporting young people with disabilities.
The Y-House Foundation is committed to Supporting Young People on their Aged Care Journey.