Ten Things You Need to Know About a National Disability Insurance Scheme

1. The support system for people with a disability and their families is in crisis. If you, or someone you love, is born with a disability or acquires one later in life, you will risk falling through a huge hole in Australia’s safety net.
2. Lack of support and services means families are primarily responsible for meeting the needs of their family member with a disability. These families are struggling with high rates of physical, emotional and financial stress.
3. The current situation is inequitable - people receive different levels of support depending on how, when and where their disability was acquired.
4. An economic crisis is looming. The number of people with a disability is increasing and the number of people able to provide unpaid care is falling. This means the cost to government is expected to escalate dramatically in the future.
5. A National Disability Insurance Scheme would provide people with a disability with the regular care, support, therapy and equipment they need to lead an ordinary life.
6. As a Medicare-type scheme, it would provide a secure and consistent pool of funds for services and support.
7. It would be fair, efficient and effective. It would focus on early intervention and delivering those supports which produce the best long term outcomes. It would maximise opportunities for independence, participation and productivity.
8. It would be individualised and person-centred. Support would be based on the choices of person with a disability and their family.
9. All Australians need the peace of mind that this scheme would deliver because disability can affect anyone, anytime.
10. But it won’t become a reality without an active grass roots campaign. So visit the website www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au and see how you can become involved.