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: Saturday, 22 December 2012 2:47:22 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.

“ Where did you hear about that! “ I hear time and time again and have experienced this myself. Families don’t know whats out there, what there entitled to and if they are entitled to it sorry but we don’t have the staff or resources at the moment. There doesn’t seem to be an actual body that is advocating for, and educating the disabled person and their family. If you do have a good advocate say a good L.A.C the red tape and paperwork is unbelievable. I havea tertiary degree yet I find it all too confusing an adding to an already very emotionally and physically draining existence…yes it feels as though you are just existing sometimes. The system just seems so fragmented and disjointed. This agency does this That agency does that. You finally get the number from a friend and contact them only to find you don’t qualify or there’s awaiting list or you’ll have to try so and so.. sometimes it almost feels like a conspiracy of confusion so that you eventually give up saving the system money and resources. You really feel like a drain on society and that your asking for just too much and it’s. All this results in is feelings of utter isolation and sometimes despair. PLEASE! Just a little bit of support.

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

• Ensure support and equipment is available when needed,
• 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:

• Recreation and community access,
• Support for families and carers,
• Flexible in-home/outside home respite,
• Case management, planning and coordination

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

It’s difficult to choose only 3. All of these have, may or will effect us at some time. For all of the above reasons. That at some time, in mine or my daughters life and all the other people living with or caring for a person with a disability, will become the most important issue. What I am saying is that I hope the NDIS doesn’t just choose a few of these aspects to buoy up. We need to have access to the support that we need at the moment and that my change over time. for me I support the scheme so we can have better access to the services we need at the time we need them

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Ms Lisa Holliday