From: To: Community Affairs, Committee (SEN); Subject: Submission to the Inquiry into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Bill 2012 Date: Thursday, 17 January 2013 11:22:14 AM
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 speak as someone who has worked in the disability field for many years, and the major factor that I believe does not work for families of children with a disability is the imbalance in accessing information, resources, support and services. Many families through social, cultural and economic circumstances do not have access to equipment, support and respite services that could benefit their child and in some cases have not been aware of financial payments and pensions to which their child is entitled. In other cases there has been no advice, information and follow up provided when these payments have been issued. Parents are time and energy poor when caring for a child with a disability and seem to have to search, chase up, fight and continuously ask (if not beg) for every small amount of assistance. Many are not able to maintain this level of engagement and either relinquish their child or keep silent.
The main features of the NDIS that will make a difference to the community are:
The ability to receive services when needed and in the way that suits the person, Less red tape, with planning done locally by people who know their community, Access to reliable information about support options
The most important services for the NDIS to provide are:
Therapy and allied health services, Support for families and carers, Case management, planning and coordination
I support the introduction of the NDIS.
I support the NDIS because it seems to be stating that every person regardless of the type of disability and when it was acquired will be placed on a database within the community in which they live. Services, support and equipment will be part of a NDIS package to which that person will be entitled. Accessing this assistance will be a streamlined process (once in place) considered a necessary community service for the child or adult, and willingly provided for through government funding. I will be watching this space!
I agree for my submission to be made public
Regards,
Mrs fiona cave