NDIA Accountability Project

Access to services for people with acquired brain injury

Spam: Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012

From: To: Community Affairs, Committee (SEN); Subject: Spam: Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012 Date: Friday, 25 January 2013 12:06:50 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.

Currently working as a Speech Pathologist, it is extremely evident that clients do not consistently have access to the services that they see as important.

With the health budget becoming more and more restricted, it is often difficult to provide evidence based, quality services.

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

  • Better access to mainstream support and services,
  • More opportunities to participate in the community,
  • The ability to receive services when needed and in the way that suits the person

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

  • Therapy and allied health services,
  • Accommodation options,
  • In-home care and domestic assistance

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

It will enable clients to access services that they require when they require them. Currently people with acquired brain injury receive an influx of services shortly after they have their injury, however these services slowly dwindle. The research is showing that as people grow older, their needs change. Therefore it is important that they have access to such services as they transition throughout their life.

After working in brain injury rehabilitation for numerous years, it has become extremely evident that people with a brain injury become institutionalised unnecessarily. As a result of the accommodation and paid care crisis that exists for people with a brain injury, they often remain in hospital for much longer than required.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Miss Tennille Thomasz