Why are so many people with disabilities denied any assistance?
Why are so many provided with insufficient or just plain inappropriate assistance?
An example is the struggle to get support for a stroke victim with showering and toileting.
Endeavour Foundation CEO David Barbagallo suggests the answers lie in the fact the state’s disability support system is ‘haphazard inequitable and crisis-driven.’ The whole disability sector in Queensland meets about 25% of the demand for services. There has been a significant increase in funding over the past 5 to 6 years but we know how many services there are in the market and we know there’s between 100000 and 125000 people with disability in Queensland and that only 20000 to 25000 people in any given year are receiving support from the government and the NGOs so you do the math.’ The state’s funding is about $200 million under the national average. The sector is underfunded and riddled with inefficiencies and inadequacies nationwide. We have 8 jurisdictions – 8 different systems that are all driven off the back of crisis not planning. There’s no universality.
The need for a national disability insurance scheme is getting a lot of backing.
The idea for a national disability insurance scheme was referred by the Federal Government to the Productivity Commission las year. The proposed national scheme would provide funding for long-term essential care and support manage the cost of long-term care replace the existing funding for those covered by the scheme and take account of the desired and potential outcomes for each person over a lifetime.
Barbagallo wants universality – the same system in every state support as a basic right and flexibility in funding. The funding has to flow through to the individual so they can make their choices. There has to be accountability but I think you have a better system when individuals have control over their circumstances. The cost of looking after someone out of home is much higher than the cost of providing supports for people in their own home.
750000 Australians under 65 have a profoud or serious disability.
State Disabilities Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk says the Queensland Government now puts a record $1.61 billion into disability and community care services compared with $520 million in 2005-06. In 2009-10 more than 23000 people received specialist disability services with an 11% increase in the number of services received. Over $500 million will be provided in 2010-11 to around 370 NGOs under the Home and Community Care Program.