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: Friday, 21 December 2012 5:09:29 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.
Currently there are many families who do not receive any support as they are not deemed ‘in crisis’. There is not (yet) family violence, their family is not (yet) at breaking point, the client is not (yet) homeless, etc. Most of the families who have a child/young person with a disability receive very little ‘preventative’ respite support. After years of ‘caring’ they are worn down by the time their child reaches teen years. Many families who have an older child or adult with disability living with them do not have any plans for their care once they are no longer able to care for them. In addition many middle aged parents who are caring for a young adult with a disability have no vision for the usual ‘caring-free’ period of their life as there is no option but to continue to be a carer..forever. After 20 years of caring, this thought is extremely crushing- there needs to be options for young people with disabilities to do what other young people do- eg shared housing away from their parental home.
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, 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, Flexible in-home/outside home respite, Crisis and emergency support
I support the introduction of the NDIS.
fairness for all families affected by disability. Redistribution of funds fo all to access, not just those in crisis. Better management of existing funds so services are not paying astronomical rates for crisis response
I agree for my submission to be made public
Regards,
MS Julie O’Leary