AEAA response to Draft NDI$ Bill 2012
The Victorian Aids and Equipment Action Alliance (AEAA) was established in 2006 to improve timely and affordable access to appropriate aids and equipment, and now includes 39 organisations and 21 individuals.
The AEAA Executive comprises 4 health professionals and 4 members of the disability community who donate their time and expertise to identify areas of concern for people managing their lives around their disability. Our work endeavours to identify ways in which assistive technology can be made more accessible in a more affordable and inclusive manner.
To date our most significant work has been achieved via “The Equipping Inclusion Studies”. We have included the Key recommendations with this letter and the full printed report is available by request and also from the following website link (http://www.aeaa.org.au/documents/Equipping-Inclusion-Full-Reports-FINAL01Oct- 2010.pdf)
The AEAA would like to take this opportunity to respond to the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012.
Our responses relate to specific points in the report and our response is articulated from the AEAA Policy Issues statement 2011 – 2012 which has the endorsement of the membership.
The AEAA hope that this response will help inform future development for the implementation of the NDIS.
AEAA
Part 2—Objects and principles
3 Objects of Act
(b) Support the independence and social and economic participation of people with disability; and
Response: One in ten Australians rely on aids and equipment in their daily lives and the assistance it provides is often essential to on or many aspects of their lives such as personal care, social interaction, work, recreation, education and caring for families. Putting this objective into the framework of contemporary disability theory it is understood that independence and social and economic participation translates to increased productivity in all aspects of a person’s life: community, civic, political, cultural, recreational, spiritual.
(f) promote the provision of high quality and innovative supports to people with disability; and
Response: Good research is essential for the development and implementation of efficient and effective programs and policies to deliver aids and equipment equitably to children, adults and older people. Issues related to aids and equipment, and how best to provide them, are under researched internationally as well as nationally. Some of the key issues include:
- Establishing the real level of demand
- Calculating the total spend on aids and equipment
- Benchmarking effectiveness of equipment distribution schemes
- Evaluating innovative aids and equipment solutions
(h) give effect to certain obligations that Australia has as a party to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Response: Without strong and robust government aids and equipment schemes there will continue to be an inability to deliver on our commitments and obligations as set out in the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and responsibilities.
4 General principles guiding actions under this Act
(3) People with disability and their families and carers should have certainty that people with disability will receive the care and support they need over their lifetime.
Response: AEAA are acutely aware of the importance of future schemes addressing consumer based indicators such as transition points. Delays to aids and equipment for
- children at each transition point from early intervention through to employment are not
- acceptable. Delays jeopardise their growth potential, reduce their independence and
- result in increased stress on families. Other transition points also occur for example
- changes in living situation, family roles and ageing. The certainty of ongoing care and
- support described here must be seamless and planned across any transition points.
(8) People with disability have the same right as other members of Australian society to be able to determine their own best interests, including the right to exercise informed choice and engage as equal partners in decisions that will affect their lives, to the full extent of their capacity.
Response: People should have seamless access to information and advice about aids and equipment that is delivered impartially and supports fully client centred decision making.