David Conry

YoungCare founder

2007 QLD Australian of the Year

From supporting his wife through her illness, David Conry recognised the plight of young adults with disabilities being forced to live in aged care nursing home facilities. This is currently the only option for the 6,500 younger Australians who need residential care. David also believes that the generation gap results in a lack of social activity for younger residents. Aged care is geared to the needs of frail elderly people, and housing younger people in these facilities contributes to the chronic shortage of beds for the elderly. And so he is doing something about it. Gathering generous support from the business sector for his newly-formed YoungCare Foundation, the entertainment industry, and the Wesley Mission, David is building an innovative apartment complex providing a welcoming, homely environment with outdoor entertainment areas, natural lighting, and separate and communal living areas for young residents. David hopes that the rest of Australia will follow this innovative Queensland example.