A Tasmanian disability advocate says people are continuing to fall through the cracks of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
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Jane Wardlaw of the Tasmania Disability Lobby said urgent changes were needed to ensure people living with complex conditions could access the scheme, criticising the agency responsible for its implementation.
“The NDIS is a much needed social reform agenda, which is essential. We are not criticising the NDIS, but we want to see improvements to the way NDIA are implementing it,” she said.
“It can work really well for some people, but for a lot of people it is not working at all. It is flawed.
“In Tasmania we have an older population, many of whom are living with very complex needs who might not have loved ones to help them navigate the system.
“There needs to be a lot more community development and support for these people.”
The comments come ahead of a public forum to be held in Launceston on Thursday, aimed at people living with disabilities, their families, carers and disability service providers.
Organised by grassroots campaign Every Australian Counts, the question-and-answer style panel will discuss what is working with the NDIS and where the scheme is failing locally.
Every Australian Counts spokeswoman Kirsten Deane said too many people were missing out on NDIS benefits.
“The system is bureaucratic and too difficult for people and providers to navigate,” she said.
“People with disability and their families have come up with many simple solutions to make the NDIS more accessible and more effective for those who need it most.
“We all want it work. These problems have to be fixed so people can finally get the support they so desperately need.”
Thursday’s free forum will be held from 10am at St Michaels Association, 22 Hoblers Bridge Road, Newstead.
Registrations can be made at here.
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Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
