NDIS announcement welcomed
ANGLICARE Sydney has welcomed the Federal Government’s announcement that it will establish a National Disability Insurance Scheme, but is concerned about the timeframe for the scheme’s implementation.
ANGLICARE Sydney CEO Dr Ian Jackson says the scheme is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve the wellbeing of people with a disability and their carers.
“This is a life-line for over 360,000 Australians with a disability whose needs are not currently being met by underfunded and over-stretched support services.
“The NDIS will provide these Australians and their carers new opportunities as valued members of our communities and demonstrate just how well a prosperous and compassionate nation can support its most vulnerable citizens”.
Dr Jackson says the additional $6.3 billion to fund the scheme must be seen as a vital investment in the nation’s social capital and one that Australian’s are willing to see established sooner rather than later.
“The additional funding required doesn’t tell us how expensive the scheme is, but just how chronically under-funded disability support services in Australia have been for too long.
“It is also important to acknowledge the financial and social cost of not implementing the scheme, with hundreds of thousands of carers unable to engage in full-time employment because of their caring responsibilities, and the continual erosion of disability programs already struggling to cope with increasing demand on their services.
“We are very encouraged by the bi-partisan support for a scheme federally and for support for the scheme coming from the NSW and Victorian state governments. However, we’d like to see other states get on board and throw their support behind the NDIS.
ANGLICARE Sydney is the community care arm of the Sydney Anglican Diocese and is the largest provider of disability support services in western Sydney.
