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: Monday, 21 January 2013 2:42:16 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.

Currently Disability services are not well streamlined and individuals and their families must deal with many providers and funding sources. While there will still be a range of providers under the proposed NDIS, central co-ordination should ease the burden for individuals and their families and reduce administrative duplication.

The provision of Disability services currently across Australia is inequitable, with available supports and services depending on the mechanism of acquiring the disability in some states. Provision of a nationally funded service will reduce this inequity and may allow for more strategic use of available funds (that it, prevent wasteful use of funding on legal challenges to establish eligibility).

Finally, currently Disability services are not always client centred, providing real choice for individuals with disabilities and their families. It is anticipated that the NDIS will increase the involvement of individuals with disabilities and their families in decision making regarding the types of support that they need, the timing and nature of that support, and the preferred service provider(s).

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

More opportunities to participate in the community, The ability to receive services when needed and in the way that suits the person, 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, Support for families and carers, Case management, planning and coordination

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

I have practiced for many years as a physiotherapist working with adults with neurological conditions, particularly catastrophic traumatic neurological injury, and have seen first hand the difficulties and disadvantages of the current Disability funding system in Western Australia.

Access to necessary services, equipment, respite, support to engage in the community (including for employment and recreation) are all extremely limited for those who do not meet the criteria for compensation. Even in the case of compensable injury, provision of services, equipment and support is variable and frequently not based on the real needs of the client and their family/carers. These people have waited a long time for a properly funded and administered scheme. The time for the NDIS is now.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Professor Barbara Singer