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: Thursday, 27 December 2012 3:12:10 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.

I am neither a person with a disability nor do i have family members with disability. Having worked in the disability field for the past 11 years, the feedback from clients and families is that the complexity of the system where one needs to search far and wide for information and services is exhausting, time consuming and frequently fruitless due to both lack of funding and exacting eligibility requirements. People need to be able to use their support funding flexibly as their lives and circumstances change over time. Early intervention is the most important strategy and needs to be where the bulk of funding goes to maximise peoples’ potential right from birth. We are currently funding support to people who often received inadequate early intervention, or none at all, resulting in more severe impairments and greater requirements for support.

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

• Ensure support and equipment is available when needed,
• The ability to receive services when needed and in the way that suits the person,
• Removal of age barriers to services for children

The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:

• Therapy and allied health services,
• Equipment and home/vehicle modifications,
• Education support (technology/services/equipment)

I support the introduction of the NDIS. Because the current system is neither adequate nor sustainable. It is demeaning to people who, through no fault of their own are at the mercy of capricious decisions by governments who have consistently under funded support to people with disability and their families for too long.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Ms Judy Muirhead