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, 21 December 2012 11:56:46 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.

It relies solely on what the family can organize and even if there is a carer then it is for extremely minimal care by people with little or no training. If the disabled client cannot speak for themselves, it falls back to the family to FIGHT for the rights of this person. In some cases the family finds it extremely difficult to know who is responsible for what. I am my brother’s only living relative but am not informed of decisions made about his life, health or finances. In some instances these decisions are foolish ones which do not make the best use of his finances and life styles. I actually have no say in my brothers life and are not even consulted about anything - even when he has been admitted to hospital. Surely the system should be a cooperative endeavour between family and care givers.

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

• More employment of people with disability and less reliance on social welfare,
• Increased ability to coordinate services to suit the “whole” person/family, 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:

• Support for families and carers,
• Flexible in-home/outside home respite,
• Crisis and emergency support

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

Families of disabled people need to feel secure in the knowledge that their loved ones will receive the care they need for life, regardless of the family situation involving finances, parental ages, level of disability. It is every persons right to live within a community which suits their individual needs and care requirements. This should not fall solely on the individual family to FIGHT for as the care these families are supplying are all consuming, tiring and costly, but also save the government billions of dollars while families provide care outside institutions.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Mrs Verelle Fudge