In a submission to a parliamentary inquiry about supported accommodation, Monash University's Centre for Developmental Disability Health paints a dismal picture of people with disabilities who cannot access the care they need.

CDDH director Associate

Professor Robert Davis said there was a "large unmet need" for supported accommodation which the State Government had to put on its agenda.

He said disability services were doing a "great job" with the available funding but a large injection of money was needed to clear a backlog of people needing accommodation.

Long waiting lists meant placements across the state were "crisis driven", Associate Professor Davis said.

People who could benefit from supported accommodation waited years to access it, leaving them in a constant state of stress and at times physical threat.

People with a disability often reached a stage of crisis that could have been averted if a suitable placement had been available earlier.

Associate Professor Davis said the CDDH had about 3500 patients, nearly

a quarter of whom were living in unsuitable accommodation. About half would benefit from moving to new or different types of accommodation, he said.

While most people attended the centre because they had reached the stage of crisis, there were many good outcomes when people with a disability were moved to suitable accommodation at an appropriate age.

"When you see the difference, it can be quite remarkable."

Opposition spokeswoman for community services Mary Wooldridge said submissions to the inquiry sent a clear message that people had "no confidence" in a system that was "clearly failing" to support and accommodate people with a disability or mental illness.

"Labor has had almost 10 years in power and more than $250billion in revenue but has spent the last 10 years sweeping the problems under the carpet, so vulnerable Victorians are continually betrayed by a system that is unaccountable and shrouded in secrecy."

A State Government spokesman said Victoria was leading the way nationally and had a "proud record" of "advancing the rights of people with a disability".

SEE more at www.monash

journal.com.au