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 2:46:44 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.

Simply not enough funding to help carers care for their disabled children without being stretched to breaking point. No school holiday or after school care programs, especially for those over 12 years of age, meaning that carers are unable to work or have a break. Money is diluted through layers of bureaucracy and very little left for families at the end. Families have to fight for every dollar and have to justify their needs over and over again. Every funding package requires pages and pages of repetitive admin forms to be filled in - a centralised information system that all groups can access (updated by families online) should be implemented. Carers should have more choice in how to spend their funding - to suit their own individual situation. Too many waiting lists for limited services. Not enough quality young adults with disability programs. Limited options for ageing parents with adult children with disabilities. I would like to plan ahead for our child’s future needs but threre are no no viable options for me to do so. Vulnerable children not looked after well in some schools. There needs to be an independent ombudsman when it comes to complaints against the Dept of Education as currently, complaints go unanswered (even the serious ones). The Police need to have a better attitude towards complaints about children with disabilities being hurt or abused in some way. Limited availability of good supported accommodation options. CCTV required in these facilities to avoid abuse of the vulnerable. The list goes on and on…

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,
• 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,
• Crisis and emergency support

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

Because any system has to be better than the broken one we have. This government builds soccer stadiums and spends millions in areas that are unjustifiable while letting this country’s most vulnerable, and those who care for them, suffer.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Mrs Caroline Livanos