NDIA Accountability Project

Supporting young people with disabilities and their families facing unmet support needs

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: Tuesday, 22 January 2013 8:26:01 AM

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.

I work for a disability service provider supporting young people with disabilities. The disability system does not work because there is not enough support for persons with a disability and their families. Weekly I hear stories of families at near breaking point due to the unmet support needs the young person they care for. All of our agency’s established programs have lengthy waitlists and weekly we have to break the news to families that their child is eligible for our services, but it may be months, years or never until their child can access a service through us. Ultimately we are unable to support all the families in need due to funding constraints.

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, More rights for people with a disability

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

  • Life-skills, Recreation and community access, Support for families and carers

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

I support the NDIS because I see on a daily basis how the current system is not working. There are so many families out there with unmet support needs. I can see the NDIS giving families more options and choice in the supports they access. Carers have such big responsibilities and I would have to the say the majority we work with or come across are lacking the supports they need. For those reading this, ask yourself one questions, what if it was my loved one that had a lifelong disability?

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Mr Shilo Wilson