Submission No 206
INQUIRY INTO IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME AND THE PROVISION OF DISABILITY SERVICES IN NEW SOUTH WALES
Name: Mr Steve Ryan Date Received: 8 August 2018
Dear Committee, As a father of a severely autistic son, I have been greatly concerned and deeply worried about the application of the NDIS.
My son who is 29 years of age has lived in a group home with 4 other similarly affected people and is totally dependant upon the 24 hour care he receives. There has been a severe downturn of happiness within this group home due to the changes implemented by the NDIS. Staff morale is at an all time low as a result of now lower rates of pay, uncertainty over the future and no longer being supervised by a structured Government department.
These changes have caused profound behavioural changes to all members of the house, a reflection of the mental state of the carers, who formerly provided a happy, steady, predictable home environment. Some have left the job which greatly affects all the clients as, over the years, close relationships have been formed between carers and clients.
However, my greatest concern is the property itself being given over to private management. They say they are not for profit but they certainly cannot operate the premises as a loss ! It is untenable that a person with a disability within supported housing can be used to provide profit for a private enterprise. Whilst the NDIS is now providing many people with disabilities a better life than they had, this is certainly not the case for those in group homes.Where are the guarantees about housing upkeep, adequate staffing levels, quality of care, the long term predictability of the home under non government, not for loss administration.
I implore the committee to fully examine the situation and future of Supported Living Housing in NSW as the committee will discover that there is only trepidation and concern over such housing ( being the family home of those so disabled and dependant ) under non government organizations. I believe that the NSW Government who, unlike most other states, should reverse their decision and reinstate the those homes to their former ADHC administration. I believe that they have a duty of care to not desert the most profoundly disabled who reside such group homes as they have done by discarding them to the insecurity of private enterprise. As an aging parent, I know that I will not die in peace due to worrying about the security, the overall care level, the future predictability of staying in the home where he lives and of the quality of staff looking after my fully dependant son. I implore the Government to meet their social responsibilities by regaining control of all the NSW supported living homes and reinstate the carers working in these homes to the supervision of ADHC.
Thank you for the opportunity to express my deep concerns, Steve Ryan.