NDIA Accountability Project

Difficulty affording basic necessities on a disability pension

‹ PrevPage 1 of 2 · Source p. 1Next ›

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 7:18:49 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.

On a disability pension, it’s hard enough just to afford the basics - food, basic clothes, paying bills.

I SHOULD have regular physio sessions, to improve my mobility & ease my pain. With such a high basic cost of living, I’ve been forced to forego such “luxuries” - something I bet no Aussie politician would ever dream of.

This limits my capacity to work, to access the community and to enjoy a healthy life.

Like many on low incomes, I have also been forced on numerous occasions to rely on charitable organisations just to afford basic food. This is an unacceptable situation in a country such as Australia.

And if I ask any federal politician why I such a situation exists in such a rich country (no matter who’s in power) I get the same response - “We are doing the best we can.”

My response?? NO, YOU ARE NOT.

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

  • More rights for people with a disability,
  • The ability to receive services when needed and in the way that suits the person,
  • 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,
  • In-home care and domestic assistance

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

Simple - those with a disability, and those caring for a person with a disability, deserve the same rights to the same QUALITY of life as do any other person in this country.

We aren’t asking to be better off than anyone else. We just want a level playing field so that we can make the same choices as everyone else.

And we should NEVER have to plead for it.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Ms Taya Nielsen