NDIA Accountability Project

Addressing inequities in the disability support system

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 12:30:17 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. The disability system as it is, does not provide adequate resources to support the human rights principle of self determination for people with a disability and the inherent cultural notion of the Australian ‘fair go’.

From 15 years experience I have gained working in the disability sector at the direct support, administration and exectuvie management levels of NGOs, I have seen many individuals and families disadvantaged by the current system; largely due to the inefficient and untimely allocation of inadequate resources, whether it is around funding, aids, equipment or social policy.

Having read a considerable amount of literature relating to the development and implementation of a model of insurance such as the NDIS, I believe a minimisation of this disadvantage could be achieved to some degree for people with a disability (and their families).

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

  • People with a disability can choose the types of support to use,
  • 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,
  • Education support (technology/services/equipment),
  • Support for families and carers

I support the introduction of the NDIS. The NDIS appears to be an efficient way to allocate resources, based on an existing model that, while not perfect, has proven beneficial to a significant amount of people who would otherwise have been disadvantaged in terms of social equity, advocacy and empowerment.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards, Mr Adam Watson