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 11:17:07 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.

I am concerned about the impact caring for someone with a mental illness has on family and friends. Too often there is not enough support and resourcing for those who care long term for a loved one who lives with a debilitaing condition such as schizophrenia. My carers worry about what will happen to me if they are not here to care for me. Supported accomodation is sadly not available for those in need of it. The present system doesn’t offer employment opportunites or support in employment for someone who might wish to participate in the workforce. Too many sufferers are receiving disability allowances with no real prospect of employment. They live in poverty, with little support, isolation and no hope for a future with a good outcome. I have schizophrenia and have lived on a disability allowance for many years and know how difficult it is to make ends meet. I have carers who have make ajustments in their lives to help me live with my mental illness.

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

• Better access to education and work opportunities,
• More employment of people with disability and less reliance on social welfare,
• 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:

• Employment support,
• Support for families and carers,
• Crisis and emergency support

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

I want a better life for both the person with a mental illness and their carers. Carers cannot care if they do not have financial help and more rescources to help them be the carers they are sometimes required to be. No one asks for their child or friend to become mentally ill, nor do they ask to be a carer. Sometimes force of circumstances land all concerned in that position. A better scheme would make it more humanly possible to manage a bad situation.

I simply ask that mental illness, which has a huge burden of care and which is a huge drain on the public purse, be recognised in the NDIS. With more compassionate care and more support to allow people with a mental illness to participate in the workforce it would have a much better outcome for the community and those with a mental illness and their carers.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Ms Sandy Jeffs