The National Disability Scheme known as the NDIS was designed to be more than the next model of Disability Care in Australia. It was a move away from traditional 'medical model' to a system that enable people with disabilities, their careers and family members to engaged in the life of the community.
The NDIS was developed in consultation with people living with disabilities, their families and employees of the disability sector through the Every Australian Counts campaign. At the core of the campaign were ensuring the human rights of Australians living with disability. It was about creating equal access to things like affordable housing, early intervention therapy programs, education, training & employment including voluntary work, sports & recreations, and justice & legal representation.
These were some of the areas identify by the UN that breach the stands of human rights in Australia. People with disabilities are among the most economical disadvantage in this country. When it comes to those with intellectual or psychological disabilities access to the justice is rare.
So how did a scheme based on a human rights movement at grassroots become about affordability to the nations budget? The budget blow-outs and miss management of funding have been fully reported in the media. But how did we get it so wrong? Or is this another myth surrounding the lives of those with disabilities?
How much is too much to ensure the human rights of the most disadvantage Australians? I do not pretend to have a figure in mind. I just think its too soon to be evaluating this reform.
Lets remember the NDIS is not welfare nor a system of handouts. It is the system that get people dressed, feed and ready for school, uni or work. It is a system that allows people to live in their own homes while enabling parents to return to the workforce or older siblings to study. The scheme is about more than those who have disabilities. It is a scheme for all Australians.
It is a scheme that will generate jobs, using Ipswich as an example about 4000 residents are eligible for some level of assistance that's up from 2600. Once fully operational that is over 4000 jobs to the region and more family members being able to work and there list dependent on welfare. How do we measure than value?
We need to value the scheme on its full social and future economic value and not the current delivery costs.
Towards A Brighter Future
Personally I looking forward to a brighter future under the NDIS. It is my hope the NDIS will allow for more flexibility in the way I access my support hours. Currently the majority of my support hours are locked into certain times provided by providers. The NDIS gives me a choice of service providers or even the option to employ my workers directly.
The agency should not be offering anyone a blank cheque. Supports are now tied to the persons individual goals and how the want to achieve there goals. Participants are not free to spend their package how they want.
Support packages which include support hours, center based supports, accommodation support, job support, transport services, early intervention, learning support, medical supplies and equipment, mobility and communication aids must be link to a NDIS goal and that money needs to be spent on supports to achieve a particular goal. The NDIS should include a more rigorous accounting system to avoid over spending.
NDIS goals (the things people with disabilities want to do - e.g. train for the special Olympics) are to encourage community participation. In my case that is living as a professional artist. This has been a long term goal of mine for a few years now. Its not a goal I invented for the NDIS, but it does tell you about the activities I want to engage in.
The Agency is less likely to support activities that do not result in community involvement for the participants or a family member. Respite may enable a full time carer to play lawn bowls one day a week. All this participation can in itself stimulate the economy. For example lunch after a game of golf or movie tickets.
When we look at specific activities that people may choose to engage in its easier to see the wider benefits to our community. The over flow on economic benefits will not be seen until the NDIS is fully rolled out.
Initial discuss around participants choices to ensure equal opportunities were using and example of overseas holidays. Supported holidays and travel are not new concepts. Nor are they luxuries and remember many participants who will nominate this goal with holiday with their families or are working. By taking holiday people inject money into our economy. I think we all a looking through to narrow looking glasses to see the full potential to add value of this historic reform.
Recently my work in the arts community was recognized by my community and Ipswich City Council. Too often outsiders assume I a drain on the public pursue. Cnr Browynich made the comment that she wish some federal MPs came to tried to keep pace with me for a week. I am honour that my council recognises and values my community contribution.
At a personal level the NDIS supports will allow me to continue to make this level of contrition. At least my council members acknowledge the benefits to them should I receive on going support.
I hope this enable you to see why this is a reform for all Australians.
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