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, 17 January 2013 10:36:32 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.

There are many examples in my experience that would evidence why the current system is a dismal faliure and constant disappointment. The most recent example is as follows:

Currently, my 20 year old daughter who lives with Autism and an Intellectual Disability is extremely vulnerable and not able to particiapte in the community without supervision.

My focus is to continue to work hard to secure her financial future, thereby ensuring she will have her own safe home to live in, providing her present and future financial security. This limits the opportunity I have (as her only parent) to support her transition from school into adulthood.

Whilst I believe she has the potential to explore supported employment options, she does not have the necessary protective behaviour skills to pursue this avenue with minimal support. Initially, she would require 1:1 support to learn the skills needed to keep safe in her work and community environment.

Currently, it is impossible to seek any funded assistance for this kind of support through the DSCI funding. She is faced with an unfair choice, attend day options which is not suitable for her level of functioning - or pursue employment/community access and put her personal safety and vulnerability in extreme jeopardy.

If there was a system that facilitated the indivual design, development and review of INDIVIDUAL goals - relevent to individual choices and individual participation in life, we would design a program of support (transport, life skills raining etc) to facilitate her to live her best life, as she would like it.

We need a system that allows EVERYONE to participate in life, not just observe it through a lens!

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

• More opportunities to participate in the community,
• Increased ability to coordinate services to suit the “whole” person/family,
• 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:

• Life-skills,
• Accommodation options,
• In-home care and domestic assistance

I support the introduction of the NDIS.

Put simply, because it will enable my daughter to participate in life - a life which

Submission

This letter was submitted under section 47F of the Freedom of Information Act.

The applicant has requested that their identity remain confidential in accordance with subsection (2)

It is respectfully submitted that:

• The information contained within this application should be treated as exempt from disclosure pursuant to section 38, which prohibits disclosure due to secrecy provisions outlined in another Commonwealth law;
• Additionally, there may also exist a basis for exemption under section 15(a), relating to personal privacy concerns; however,
• This request does not fall within any other category or exception provided for in Part IIIA of the FOIA.

Please note: I have read all relevant sections including but not limited to Parts IIIB & IV (including Schedule A) regarding exemptions applicable here.

Should you require further clarification on matters discussed above please do contact me directly at [email protected] via email correspondence only - no phone calls will ever be accepted during processing stages related thereto.

Yours faithfully, redacted