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: Friday, 25 January 2013 9:40:43 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. The system doesn’t work for us because there a so many different bodies and they all have their own criteria and it’s all so confusing. I have been trying to get respite for my daughter, on a waiting list for 2 years now and then have to get funding for the respite to be approved but can’t get the respite approved until i have funding approved.

Everything is a visciuos circle like this and it is so frustrating, as if looking after this person isn’t hard enough and totally draining, then you have to deal with all of this red tape just to try and make life a bit easier- it’s not good enough.

We have had to try and raise money from family and friends ( whom we don’t have many off anymore I think their getting sick of our calls for help) just to purchase equipment we need because everything is so expensice. There needs to be some sort of watchdog on all of these equipment suppliers who must be aking an absolute killing. Our equipment costs to date - $30,000 vehicle conversion after the $10,000 from the govt

• specialised be $10,500
• wheelschair $3,500 after the $4,000 from govt
• indoor chair $5,500 there are lots of other costs, and on going costs, such as a bathroom modification.

Being a carer is very isolating and very challenging - it’s hard not to feel like a failure ……

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

Ensure support and equipment is available when needed, More opportunities to participate in the community, Minimising the number of times people have to tell their story in order to get support

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

Equipment and home/vehicle modifications, Support for families and carers, Flexible in-home/outside home respite

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

In the hope that it will bring all services together and make it easier to access these services because I am so sick of getting the run around one service just hand balls you off to another service and in the end you just give up, life’s to tiring as it is caring for someone 24/7.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Mrs Belinda McDonald