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 3:02:26 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.

While there is not a person with a disability as part of my own family, I have worked in the Disability Sector for the past (almost) thirty years, across S.A. and in New South Wales. I have come to know many people with a disability and their family members who struggle to provide a lifestyle for their sons and daughters that is at least equal with those of us who do not have a disability: a quality of life where the interests, rights and individual choices of their sons and daughters are well advocated for, when individuals cannot advocate for themselves. The protection of human rights is something highly valued and rigourously demanded by strong advocates within our multicultural society, yet the rights of our most vulnerable people, those with disability and complex health needs, including those with dual disabilities, and people with mental health issues, are all too often over-ridden by beaurocracies, led by hollow political promises dangled before people most in need, and usually before election times. Disability can happen to anyone, anytime. We are an ageing population. The writing on the wall is giving no hope for the future. We ALL need a better future!

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,
• The ability to receive services when needed and in the way that suits the person,
• 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:

• Accommodation options, Case management, planning and coordination, Positive behaviour support and psychological services

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

Going ahead with the NDIS will be a huge boost to the morale of people with disability, their family members, service providers, people who are already connected in meaningful ways to the issues that need to be addressed and “ironed out”, and the whole community as well. There are bound to be teething problems ahead, uncertainty about who initially will be benefactors, how it will all come together. There will be “ups” and “downs”, as with any new and innovative process, things to be learned, more work to be done to hone the system so that more people with disabilities can benefit; but going ahead with the NDIS will be the morale-booster that everyone needs, because everyone, in the Big Picture will gain from a government that will have the fortitude to take steps into a future that will look brighter, steps that will make the horizon come that little bit closer. How can you put a price on Hope for an improved quality of life, with questions such as “What will happen to my loved one when I am gone?” finally being put to rest, fears finally allayed?

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Ms Jeanette Kinkead