National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024

Submission 81

To whom it may concern,

I am writing in regards to the NDIS review where animal assisted therapies are being proposed to be removed from the scheme.

This is extremely disappointing to hear in a rural area who gets great value from this service.

In a community lacking assistance from occupational therapies, key workers, speech therapists, this is concerning, the turnover or lack of staff and assistance we have received in this area or having to drive for an hour to receive it.

However animal assisted therapy has been a constant and a positive in our life. I have had to significant reduce my work hours to support and my disability, and yet again we will have a support taken away from us.

I implore you to get input from participants and their families on these changes and also consider we don’t all live in cities with access to other therapy types.

We all matter.

Thanks, Stacey