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: Monday, 7 January 2013 12:29:11 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 work with a very broad range of students with disability and am constantly confounded by the vast amount of funding for children and young people with the disabilities that are the flavour of the month and the pittance or non-existent funding for other students. A little in some cases would go a long way. The flexibility to apply the funding in a timely fashion to the specific student’s needs at the time would mean an increase in quality of life for student and family.

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

• Ensure support and equipment is available when needed,
• Increased ability to coordinate services to suit the “whole” person/family,
• 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,
• Recreation and community access

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

I am an occupational therapist and the needs of the people with disabilities in the community are rarely if ever met by funding provided by the government. Additionally I would like to know that if I had a sudden onset disability or major injury (ABI, Stroke, limb loss) I would be able to easily access funding to make the necessary adjustments to my life.

I agree for my submission to be made public

Regards,

Ms Nadine Olsen