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: Thursday, 24 January 2013 8:22:31 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.

I’m a 26-year-old woman with mild Cerebral Palsy. The medical term is Spastic Diplegia, this means that my legs and arms are affected, but mostly my legs. Although my physical disability is mild, I have been struggling to find employment over the past couple of years. I have been applying for jobs without any success. I am aware that there is Disability Employment services available, but one agency I have joined, wasn’t very helpful. They would recommend jobs that weren’t very suitable for my needs - even though they would say it’s a job and I should apply for the job since it is a “job”. I also had up to four different employment consultants handling my case over the past 18 months that I was with that agency. I just really wanted some consistency, that my situation as a disabled person is important. I don’t want to be seen as a statistic, or to feel that I was just purely on their books for financial reasons.

I and many other people with disabilities need support to find suitable employment that fits to our needs - both physically, mentally and emotionally. There are some things we can’t do, due to our disability, but we would like to be given the opportunity to try. We would like to given a fair go. The Disability system at the moment needs to be changed. There needs to be more opportunities for people who do have a disability to get into the workforce. This can only change, if workplaces are happy for someone with a disability to work there. And there needs to be efficient support to help a person with a disability to go financially, physically, and mentally ready for work.

I do receive a pension from the Australian Government due to my physical disability. It has been helpful to pay for living expenses, accommodation, transportation, and disability support. But I feel the money that I am given isn’t enough due to the rise of the cost of living. The price of groceries, petrol and health insurance has dramatically gone up in recent years. It’s difficult for someone who doesn’t have a job to make ends meet. I don’t want to solely rely on welfare, because I would like to work, but due to the nature of my disability, it’s difficult. The National Disability Insurance Scheme will help to ease the burden of having to solely depend on the welfare pension.

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,
• Minimising the number of times people have to tell their story in order to get support,
• Older parents and families will not worry what happens when they can no longer provide support

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

• Employment support,
• Support for families and carers,
• In-home care and domestic assistance

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme

The National Disability Insurance Scheme will allow people with disabilities the opportunity to spend the money on their own choices - whether it’s for day-to-day living expenses, or transportation, accommodation, equipment and support for the workforce, and even for planning their future as they get older.

As a disabled person, I would greatly appreciate given more rights. The National Disability Insurance Scheme will ensure that I will be cared for as I get older and more dependent on others. This may mean to provide me with in-home care and domestic assistance or helping me for more suitable accommodation, or even more support services physically and psychologically.

Every disabled person is different - their needs will be different and varied. The Australian Government needs to listen to us as well as our families and local communities in order to provide us with the most suitable, manageable and flexible support for people with disabilities. Together, as one - we can look after our most vulnerable, but greatly valued disabled Australians.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Miss Elizabeth Inglis