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 8:51:48 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 am not responding for myself (although I have become diabled in recent years) or family but rather in my professional position as a solicitor with the Older Persons’ LegaL Service in NSW.

The type of system for which you are seeking comment appears to focus mainly on younger people (0-60 years old). Whilst many of the features presented are generic the only feature that focusses on older people is the last feature listed on the list immediately below. Whilst this is a very important concern there are many older people with disabilities who still may need to work and for many their disability has occured with increasing age.

One major problem for older people with disabilities is elder abuse and the need to have one specific legal jurisdiction to deal with these matters. Elder abuse may see a person robbed of their home or their income due to the fact that if their home is their major asset and it is transferred to someone else by breach of Power of Attorney or fraud Centrelink will stop or considerably reduce their pension. This can often leave them homeless and often the belief that they have nowhere to turn.

The current Court systems that are available are generally expensive, take considerable time to deal with the matter and are not user friendly for an older disabled person.

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

Ensure support and equipment is available when needed, The ability to receive services when needed and in the way that suits the person, 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, Support for families and carers, In-home care and domestic assistance, Case management, planning and coordination, Crisis and emergency support

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

It is not possible to tick just 3 types of support as those ticked I view as the most im[portant to be provided in no order of priority.

I support the Scheme as it is possible that it may be an improvement on what currently is in place.

I do not support the name which to many people is confusing, as one always has to pay for insurance. Rather I think the word ASSURANCE is the appropriate word

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as it implies that something is assured.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Mrs Margaret SMALL