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 2:52:06 PM

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.

Crisis driven Fragmented Resource and constraint driven Welfare focussed

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

• Better access to mainstream support and services,
• More rights for people with a disability,
• The ability to receive services when needed and in the way that suits the person

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

• Support for families and carers,
• Flexible in-home/outside home respite,
• Case management, planning and coordination

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

Every Australian needs the peace of mind that if he/she becomes disabled or has a child with a disability born in to his/her family that the person living with the disability and the family unit will be supported on their life-long journey. Too often we see people with acquired/late onset disability have their lives save at point of injury and they are then “discarded” by the system upon discharge from health services. People with disabilities have been living as second class citizens in Australia for too long it is time to right this discrimination and injustice. The legislation needs to cover all people who are born with and/or acquire thier disability under the age of 65 years.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Ms Jacqui Pierce