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: Sunday, 20 January 2013 3:54:51 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.

It appears that most services are aimed at people who are at home during the day. Our son has cerebral palsy and works full time but needs some assistance to live independently. It is hard to find assistance that is appropriate and can be tailored to an individual. As a family we have provided assistance to our son that has necessitated us traveling many hours a week and staying away from home through the week to support him to work and be a productive member of the community.

I have recently given up a part time job to care for an elderly parent full time in my own home so I am now unable to travel and provide assistance to my son. This has presented a dilemma as we have lost my part time wage as well as having to employ someone to aid my son.

Families make personal and financial sacrifices willingly but it would be wonderful to have community support as nobody chooses to have a disability.

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

• 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,
• People with disability/family will influence the types of support and services offered

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

• Therapy and allied health services, Equipment and home/vehicle modifications,
• In-home care and domestic assistance

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

I would like my taxes to be spent on helping the most vulnerable in the community. At the moment it is a very uneven system which depends on how you acquire the disability as to how you are assisted. I know it is essential to pay compulsory third party insurance to ensure that people injured in vehicle accidents are adequately assisted. I think the NDIS is an obvious extension of this system to cover all members of the community not just people involved in road accidents. Why should you be at a disadvantage if you have an accident at a beach or at home rather than on the roads? Anyone can become disabled at any time in their life, this scheme is for everyone not just people and families living with disabilities now.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Mrs Andrea Baxter