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 10:34:08 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.

My greatest need is a mobility scooter which I cannot afford to obtain myself. Because of this my mobility is greatly reduced. I hardly ever go out because I don’t have a car or access to one. Because of this, I have become depressed as well and this has greatly impacted on my sense of well-being.

I have not been able to get any help from the government to obtain a scooter because it doesn’t fit into any of the funding parameters. I believe one of the great things about the National Disability Insurance Scheme is that funding can be focussed on the area of need for the disabled person. So I am hoping this will enable me to have my needs met more effectlvely and give me the possibility of living a better life.

I urge the inquiry to make it possible for disabled people to choose the area of need they would like assistance with as this will make a huge difference to our lives.

I am also very concerned that because the Queensland premier is not co- opera ting with the Federal Government that this will affect the benefits Queensland disabled people will gain through the NDIS. I hate the fact that politicians play political games with people’s lives and I will be contacting him to urge him to put us first. In recent days he has been shamed into releasing some funds for the disabled, but I don’t believe this is going to make it easy for a joint working together with the Federal Government.

I urge you to do all you can to try to get co-operation with the Queensland Premier despite how difficult he is being.

I would like to thank the current Federal Government for developing the NDIS Scheme because it gives disabled people like me some hope for the future.

Kind regards

Cherie Bailey

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,
• People with a disability can plan their lives and pursue their goals and dreams,
• The ability to receive services when needed and in the way that suits the person

The Most Important Services for the NDIS

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

• Equipment and home/vehicle modifications,
• In-home care and domestic assistance,
• Positive behaviour support and psychological services.

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

Because I believe it will provide for the needs of disabled people more effectively than what is currently happening with the various states and federal schemes.

It will be good to have consistent services across the states.

I agree for my submission to be made public.

Regards, Mrs Cherie Bailey