NDIA Accountability Project

Lack of respite and support for families caring for disabled members

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

From: To: Community Affairs, Committee (SEN); Subject: Spam: Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012 Date: Friday, 21 December 2012 9:27:37 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.

Everyone needs a rest. People who have a disabled family member are denied rest. They are expected to go on indefinitely with no respite or such a small amount of respite that it might as well be no respite. They love their disabled members and want to see them given appropriate treatment, education, health care and opportunities to be accepted in society and they need to have peace of mind about that disabled members future when they may find themselves alone in the world. From what I have seen of the disability system its full of red tape and restrictions and mean amounts of service.

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

  • Ensure support and equipment is available when needed,
  • Removal of age barriers to services for children,
  • 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:

  • Therapy and allied health services,
  • Life-skills,
  • Support for families and carers

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

I saw a documentary on SBS about families caring for disabled members and I was apalled at the pressures they were subjected to relentlessly with no assistance of any substance from the government. How they managed to survive and carry on with their caring was nothing short of heroic. These families need and deserve our support. They need regular weekly respite. They need qualified therapists. They need special educators. They have special health needs. They also need the peace of mind of knowing their family member will be looked after even when they can no longer serve. A National Disability Insurance Scheme would provide all of this. Please do whatever needs to be done to see it established ASAP.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards, Mrs Bernadette Duffy