|
Supported Living
In 2011 NSW CID was invited by the Ageing Disability and Home Care Department to join the Reference Group for the establishment of the Supported Living Fund in NSW.
This initiative was announced in the NSW Budget for 2011/2012.
Essentially supported living is about people with disability:
- Living in their own home
- Making choices about their life
- Getting support to live the way they want to.
(from www.supportedliving.org.au)
NSW CID's input to this Reference Group has centred on ensuring the SLF will be an accessible and realistic option for people with intellectual disability.
To find out more about what supported living is visit www.supportedliving.org.au
To register your interest in the Supported Living Fund click here.
Shut In Campaign
Shut In is the national campaign to raise awareness about people with disability in institutions, take action to close institutions, and to advocate for housing and supports that enable people with disability to live in the community in the same way as everyone else.
NSW CID has endorsed the position statement on housing and support, which calls for Government to honour thier commitments to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability.
People are encouraged to visit the Shut In website to find out more about the issues and the campaign. The website also shares peoples personal perspectives and stories.
Late NSW CID Member Kim Walker features in a powerful video explaining why she believes people with disability should have the right to live in the community.
Click here to see more www.shutin.org.au
National Disability Insurance Scheme News
On 9 August 2011, the Federal Government announced that it will commence work immediately with the states and territories to ‘build the foundations for a national disability insurance scheme’.
This has come in response to the Productivity Commission's Report on Disability Care and Support.
NSW CID welcomes this announcement as it is a promising step towards providing equitable and sustainable support for people with an intellectual disability.
NSW CID, especially the Speak Out Reach Out Group Members, have been strong advocates thus far in the development of an NDIS.
This work will continue - NSW CID wants to ensure that the NDIS is designed to truly meet the needs of people with intellectual disability.
NSW CID believes there will still be much advocacy and campaigning to be done as the state and federal governments negotiate the funding, operating and technical details of the scheme.
The Federal Government has stated:
“In line with the Productivity Commission’s recommendations, the Government, with the States and Territories, will start work immediately on building the foundations for reform. We will:
- Deliver an immediate, additional $10 million, consistent with the PC recommendations, to support this technical policy work;
- Move to establish a COAG Select Council of Ministers from the Commonwealth, States and Territories to lead reform in this area at COAG next month;
- Take steps to establish an Advisory Group to the Select Council, led by Dr Jeff Harmer, to provide expert advice on delivering the foundations for reform and preparation for launch”
NSW CID will provide ongoing updates of the progress of the NDIS, as well as our actions in this area.
There has been much media attention about this announcement and the following links present a range of summaries, media releases and commentaries.
Visit the Productivity Commission website to download copies of the:
- Full Report
- Plain English Report
- Easy English Report
- Executive Summary
Federal Government – Media Release, 10 August 2011
“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.”Click here to read the complete media release.
Federal Coalition - Media Release, 10 August 2011
“The Shadow Minister for Families, Housing and Human Services, Kevin Andrews, said the Federal Opposition has welcomed today’s public release of the Productivity Commission’s Final Report into Disability Care and Support.” Click here to read the complete media release .
Australian Greens – Media Release, 10 August 2011
"We agree with the Productivity Commission that funding for disability should be a core function of Government, and we are pleased that the Government has announced it will start work on the foundations of a NDIS. The foundation work is essential however the community needs to be assured that funding for the Scheme will be available." Click here to read the complete media release.
NSW Government – Media Release, 10 August 2011
NSW Minister for Disability Services, Andrew Constance, has welcomed the release of the Productivity Commission’s report which recommends a National Disability Insurance Scheme, but has warned that the hard work is still ahead of us to ensure the scheme becomes a reality. Click here to read the complete media release.
NSW Opposition – Media Release, 10 August 2011
"The NSW Opposition welcomes the Prime Minister's announcement that the Federal Government will immediately begin working to create the National Disability Insurance Scheme to provide tailored care and support to people with disabilities."
Click here to read the complete media release.
National Council on Intellectual Disability (NCID) – Media Release, 10 August 2011
“A positive future for people with intellectual disability. NCID celebrates a scheme that delivers funding and control over our lives - sooner rather later please PM.” Click here to read the complete media release.
NSW Council of Social Services (NCOSS) – Summary of the Report
This highlights some of the key features of the proposed scheme.
Click here to read the summary .
Purple Orange – Media Release
“This is an important opportunity for Australians living with disability, and the family members in their lives, to move away from being second-class citizens and instead take up their rightful place as active members in our communities.”
Click here to read the complete media release.
Boarding House News and Ombudsman's Report, August 2011
NSW CID commends the efforts of People With Disability (PWD) who have been advocating at both an individual and systemic level for the protection of the human rights of people who have been living in licensed boarding houses. PWD’s relentless advocacy has led to some recent activity which has seen the relocation of some residents to safe, supported housing.
A report by the NSW Ombudsman released on August 16 called “More than board and lodging: the need for boarding house reform”, highlights the factors which have contributed to ongoing abuse, neglect and violence towards people who are residents of licensed boarding houses. This has been a long standing issue.
In the report the Ombudsman, Bruce Barbour states:
“Despite our significant past activity highlighting the need for action, our work continues to raise serious concerns about the safety, health and well-being of licensed boarding house residents.”
“The need for concerted and sustained cross-government action to achieve real and improved outcomes for people living in licensed and unlicensed boarding houses is overdue.”
Many residents of licensed boarding houses have a cognitive disability, mental health condition or often both. NSW CID supports strong reform, as recommended by both PWD and the Ombudsman, so that these people are afforded the same protections as people living in supported accommodation.
To read PWD Media Releases around this issue click on the links below:
Media Release July 18
Media Release August 16
To read the Ombudsman’s Report click here.
To read the response from the NSW Government click here.
Speak Out Reach Out (SORO) Easy Read Response to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Disability Care and Support
SORO is an advisory group of NSW CID Members, all of whom have an intellectual disability.
SORO has spent the last few months working on their response to the Draft Report.
They are glad that the Draft Report says that people with intellectual disability should be included in a National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Some of the key issues they talk about in their report are:
- Advocacy
- Assessments
- Decision Making
- Planning
To read the full report click here.
SORO has done an excellent job in speaking out about what it is important to them.
Congratulations to SORO for their fantastic work.
NSW CID Response to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Disability Care and Support
NSW CID was also keen to highlight some additional issues in response to the Draft Report.
These relate to the particular complexities that can arise when people with intellectual disability:
- come into contact with the justice system
- engage in risky lifestyles
- have a mental health diagnosis
To read the full report click here.
Speaking Out
Speaking out about appropriate community accommodation options for people with intellectual disability has been at the forefront of our work for many years. Our advocacy has focused on ensuring community accommodation options and on unmet need and the importance of providing support for families so that they avoid crises.
Government Plans
In May 2006 the NSW Government announced a plan for disability services called 'Stronger Together' in which they promised to deliver significant additional accommodation, respite and therapy places for people with disability. NSW CID welcomed this progress whilst acknowledging that the plan would still not be able to provide enough places for the amount of unmet need in NSW.
NSW CID advocates for accommodation options that allow people to live in the community, in a lifestyle similar to those who do not have a disability. Apart from the many people living with ageing carers, there are approximately 2,400 people living in large residential centres, whom we believe should be afforded the right to independent adult lives in the community with the appropriate safeguards and supports in place. NSW CID has dedicated much of our advocacy work toward urging Government to abandon plans to redevelop some large residential facilities and to develop a range of accommodation options that are in keeping with community norms; i.e. people living alone or in small groups sharing houses or flats where they have their own room.
Please find below a NSW CID brochure which outlines our beliefs about the benefits of community living for people with intellectual disability.
 Community living for all people with intellectual disability
Recent news
In February 2008 a NSW CID delegation met with the Disability Services Minister Kristina Keneally to once again express our alarm at the Government's move away from a long-standing committment to close all large residential centres. The Government however informed us that they will 'redevelop' rather than close at least some of the institutions, with plans already underway.
Some members of NSW CID have lived in instutitions in the past, and advocate very strongly against them. Some of these people were present at the meeting with the Minister and felt very strongly that large institutions cannot provide appropriate safeguards for the residents. NSW CID will continue to lobby against such redevelopments and actively encourage the Government to look at funding alternative models of accommodation such as flexible packages and drop in support.
For more information see NSW CID's position paper on Accommodation below.
 Accommodation Position Paper
Accommodation Forums - 'What future for Kim'
NSW CID recently hosted two accommodation forums - one south of Sydney in Kiama on the 4th June 2008 and one in Parramatta on 25th June 2008. At these forums we discussed the various models of accommodation currently available for people with intellectual disability and what options we should be looking toward in the future. The discussion was very interesting with varying opinions on this very important issue. To read more about these forums click on the link below.
'What future for Kim' - Accommodation Forums 2008 Report
|
