National Disability Insurance Scheme Forum
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers Jan McLucas today attended a forum in Ipswich to discuss major reform of disability services in Australia.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) dominated discussion today at the forum hosted by Member for Blair Shayne Neumann and attended by people with disability, their families and carers, local disability service providers and advocacy groups.
“Every Australian deserves to have confidence that if they acquire a disability or if their children are born with a disability they will receive the care and support they need,” Mr Neumann said.
“A NDIS would provide a lifetime approach to support people with disability and provide better support for families and carers.”
“The strong attendance at today’s forum is testament to the local community’s support for reform of disability services.”
The Federal Labor Government has started work with the states and territories to establish the foundations for a NDIS and will begin working with a NDIS Advisory Group, which brings together a variety of diverse experiences from the disability sector.
The Advisory Group will ensure that the Australian Government receives well balanced and informed advice, which will lay the foundations for long term change of the disability sector, including those in Ipswich.
Senator McLucas said “We want to get this major reform right. There is a significant amount of work to be undertaken in order to achieve this, and we are getting started right away.”
“We value the contribution of communities like Ipswich which are supporting people with disability through local services and care programs.”
“The Australian Government will listen to communities to understand what is needed to improve and boost the skills of the disability services sector.”
The NDIS would provide people with disability and their families with the right services, giving them better access to an appropriate whole-of-life suite of services and support.
Families would also have more choices about the combination of work and informal care for family members at various stages of life.
The Australian Government supports the Productivity Commission’s vision for a system that provides individuals with the support they need over the course of their lifetime, and wants reform of disability services that is financially sustainable.
“I would like to thank the Ipswich community for their support for a NDIS, which would improve the quality of life of thousands of Australians, providing more options and support for people with disability,” Senator McLucas said.
Senator McLucas was joined by other guest speakers, including Fiona Anderson of Every Australian Counts, and local mother and disability advocate Carmel James.