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: Saturday, 22 December 2012 9:11:06 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.

The current funding model in the disability arena is too rigid. You get what is offered and that is it. Very little scope for change, innovation and personal choice. And you have to bear your soul and jump through hoops, so to speak, to get these prescriptive goods and services.

Accommodation for people with disabilities is adhoc. Some houses are well maintained and well managed while others are not. And that’s across service providers. Accommodation costs are high and residents are left with an amount of money per fortnight that could only keep them in poverty.

Transport is expensive, unreliable and cumbersome to manage. Many services are folding their own transport services due to budget restraints and favouring the public taxi service. The disabled, cash strapped client bears the cost of the unreliable taxi service.

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,
• More opportunities to participate in the community,
• People with a disability can plan their lives and pursue their goals and dreams

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

• Education support (technology/services/equipment),
• Life-skills,
• Accommodation options

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

It will make the needs of people with a disability real and ongoing. Fairer and more just.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards, Mrs Marg Burrowes