NDIA Accountability Project

Respite care challenges for families with disabled relatives

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 2:32:34 PM

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.

There needs to be more support for Service Providers to provide staff training and a complete system of support workers which does not appear to be available at the moment.The fact that support workers can NOT move freely between service providers without lengthy months of training for that service provider.Service providers should be able to work together to utilise good staff,support families and those with a disability, especially in the area of flexible respite.Currently families go without this service because service providerrs cANNOT use staff employed by other prviders, hense providing long periods of NO RESPITE for families.

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:

  • Support for families and carers,
  • Accommodation options,
  • Flexible in-home/outside home respite

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

I BELIEVE THAT THE NDIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION IN ACKNOWLEDGING PEOPLE WITH A DISABILITY AND THEIR RIGHT TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY AND NOT JUST ANOTHER NUMBER.THE RIGHT TO HAVE THEIR DREAMS AND NEEDS HEARD AND SUPPORTED BY ONE UMBRELLA SYSTEM WHICH CATERS FOR THEIR INDIVIDUAL NEEDS.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Mrs MARIE PATTERSON