UnitingCare Australia Backs Call for National Disability Insurance Scheme

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UnitingCare Australia Backs Call for National Disability Insurance Scheme

UnitingCare Australia Media Release

8 October 2009

Dr Rhonda Galbally AO, Chair of the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council for Australia, has called on the Australian Government to work with State and Territory Governments to establish a no fault Disability Insurance Scheme.

Ms Lin Hatfield Dodds, National Director of UnitingCare Australia, has endorsed this recommendation, on behalf of the UnitingCare network of social services working in 1300 communities across Australia.

“UnitingCare services have a long and proud history of working with people living with disabilities, their families and communities, providing housing, services and support”, said Ms Hatfield Dodds. “Every day we partner with individuals, families and communities to ensure all Australians have access to a decent life. This includes appropriate food, clothing, housing and health care; meaningful work, education, rest and recreation; and the opportunity to participate in communities as fully as they wish and are able.”

In her address yesterday Dr Galbally gave numerous examples of how people living with disabilities are shut out from a decent life. She presented compelling economic and social justice arguments for establishing a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

“UnitingCare Australia is convinced that such a scheme would help transform the lives of people living with disabilities by ensuring proper investment in services and supports for them, driving a focus on early intervention and better enabling people to reach their potential,” said Ms Hatfield Dodds.

UnitingCare services have been working for several years with other service providers in the disability sector to advocate for establishment of this sort of insurance scheme. These providers say that an essential component of the transformation process brought about by the National Disability Insurance Scheme should be the involvement of people with a disability in the design of the service system so that it takes account of their lived experience, and that of their families and carers.

“UnitingCare Australia stands with the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council in calling for the Australian Government to provide funding in the 2010-2011 Budget for a feasibility study into establishment of a no-fault National Disability Insurance Scheme,” said Ms Hatfield Dodds.

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You can download the pdf version of the media release here.