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: Saturday, 19 January 2013 11:14:46 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.

My husband is still working at the moment. He drags himself around doing what he can to stay on top of his game as head of refit for a prawn trawling company. He still managers to crawl onto boats if he has to. It is stressful as he hires people to do the refit work and if things aren’t done well or within the time frame the buck stops with him. His boss is keen to keep him on as he is very good at his job and gets much respect from his peers. He trys to keep going for as long as he can and really does not want to give up work totally but coping with barely being able to stand and the realisation that he will be in a wheel chair in the not to distance future is depressing for him and me. I am 55 and not able to earn the income he can so it will be difficult for us to live as well as we do now. Mind you that is really only middle income and that would mean we would need to go on pensions to survive. If the NDIS was able to help by funding some things like excercise and phyiso or consessions so my husband could cut his work hours which are long, he’d be able to do more things to help him maintain his ability to walk perhaps a little longer. For someone like him who is and can continue to contribute to looking after ourselves would benifit from some form of assistance which helps us to keep going and not become a burden on society. Forward planning and the insurance scheme could be used in this way as well.

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

• Ensure support and equipment is available when needed,
• People with a disability can choose the types of support to use,
• Better access to mainstream support and services,
• Better access to education and work opportunities,
• More employment of people with disability and less reliance on social welfare,
• People with a disability can plan their lives and pursue their goals and dreams,
• The ability to receive services when needed and in the way that suits the person,
• Less red tape, with planning done locally by people who know their community,
• Access to reliable information about support options

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

• Therapy and allied health services,
• Equipment and home/vehicle modifications,
• Employment support,
• Recreation and community access,
• Support for families and carers,
• In-home care and domestic assistance,
• Flexible in-home/outside home respite

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

YES FOR THE SAME REASOMS ABOVE. TO HELP TAKE SOME OF THE STRESS OFF THE CARERS AND FAMILIES LOOKING AFTER POEPLE WITH DISABILITIES. HELP TO MAINTAIN THE PRIDE AND WELL BEING OF INDIUVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES. HELP THEM TO PAY FOR SOME OF THEIR OWN HELP BY GIVING OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE THAT CAN WORK THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN AND FIND WORK WHILE STILL BEING ABLE TO ACCESS FREE OR CHEAPER FORMS

OF AIDES, SUPPORT AND THERAPIES WHICH MAY BE NEEDED TO ACHEIVE

THUS MAKING A CONTRIBUTION TO THEIR OWN CARE AND TAKING

SOME OF THE BURDEN OUT OF THE COSTS.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

mrs Christine Edwards