Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012

From: To: Community Affairs, Committee (SEN); Subject: Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012 Date: Friday, 18 January 2013 10:12:34 AM

Please consider this email a formal submission by me to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012.

The current disability system has many problems that need to be addressed.

Having watched my niece and her primary carers her mum, dad and brother struggle with what we just take for granted as day to day tasks, the mental, physical and social anguish and toll this has taken on them all for the past 30 plus years with no end to their pain in sight, says it all. As a society and government we need to do more to help people with disabilities and their carers. At present there is not enough help and support for carers. Not only are they challenged every day with decision making regarding their loved one, the physical challenges in helping feed, dress, carry, move, shower, toilet etc etc is enormous.

Only a month ago my niece needed a tooth removed which had broken and was infected. She was in great pain. Her parents went from dentist to dentist, distressed at their daughters predict ament, made all the worse because they were sent on their way numerous times in one day being told they don’t work on handicapped people. How can this be! Why is everything which is already so difficult be made so much more difficult and upsetting. We don’t have a child with a physical disability so I can only try and imagine what it must be like. But we do have a child with a mental disability. He is 30 and his last 12 years have seen him in and out of psychiatric hospitals. His life has been a tremendous struggle for him and us. We have learnt so much about what is and isn’t available for him. We do our best to care and support him at home. What other choice do we have? That is the biggest challenge I see people with disabilities and their carers having - choice! If you are able bodied and mentally well there are endless choices but for those with disabilities choice is often very limited. The NDIS can go a long way to helping and giving people with disability and their carers choice about making their lives just a little more bare able and ease the stress of how to care for our loved ones in the future.

The main features of the NDIS that will make a difference to the community are:

• Better access to mainstream support and services, The ability to receive services when needed and in the way that suits the person,
• Older parents and families will not worry what happens when they can no longer provide support

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

• Support for families and carers,
• Case management, planning and coordination,
• Crisis and emergency support

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

I see the NDIS as very important to the future of people and their carers with disability. As a community and government we have the opportunity to make a difference now and for the future for our people. Lets make change and a difference to give hope to all those people in our community affected by

Disability

Living with disability creates depression, anxiety, fear and a sense of hopelessness. The NDIS can ease their burden.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Mrs Wendy Wignell