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: Sunday, 23 December 2012 11:23:52 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.

I was injured in a bus incident and have had to try and claim from TAC. This was hard and I still had to pay their excess - well over five hundred dollars and neither my husband nor I have any income. This excess is the same for everybody, employed or otherwise!

Now each time I need something I have to get my treating practitioner to write a letter to TAC and then they decide.

I do not want it to end up in the hands of lawyers because it would be too stressful.

Fortunately, while my injuries are serious and affect my daily life, I will be able to achieve a reasonable level of rehabilitation, unlike many others in our community.

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

• Ensure support and equipment is available when needed,
• People with disability/family will influence the types of support and services offered,
• 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:

• Therapy and allied health services,
• Support for families and carers,
• In-home care and domestic assistance

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

It has to be better than the piecemeal system that we have now.

At present, I feel like I’m a second-rate citizen and whenever I need some help I feel that I have to beg.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards, Mrs Marilyn King