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News in Brief

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Update

The idea of a National Disability Insurance Scheme has been around for some time now, first gaining publicity at the 2020 Summit.

The scheme proposes a medical care levy to provide people with a disability with entitlements to care and support, therapy, aids and equipment, home modifications and access to the community, education and training.

Late in 2009 the federal government acknowledged that the systems that support people with a disability and their families were not working well and instigated the Productivity Commission to undertake an inquiry into the feasibility of a National Long Term Care and Support Scheme.

If you think the system to support your child and family could be improved, this is your chance to be heard. It will be important to focus on what you think a new system should look like, rather than criticism of the current system. Solutions are the key. The Commission already knows that the current one is not working and is looking for new ideas.

You can register your interest, attend public hearings or provide a written submission to the Commission.

For more information phone 1800 020 083 or visit www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquirydisability-support

NDIS fact sheet (PDF 25KB)

New Respite Victoria website

Respite and carer support services are provided by a range of different organisations and it can be difficult to know where to start when you first consider accessing respite, need support or move to a new area.

Respite Victoria links you to the eight regional disability respite websites in Victoria. Each regional website links you to the Respite Service Search (local and statewide), and has specific local information, news and events.

Respite support is when carers can take a short-term or time-limited break while someone else supports the person with a disability. It aims to provide a positive experience for both the person with a disability and the carer.

Respite support is flexible and can be planned throughout the year so that there are regular or occasional breaks, or it can be unplanned when a break is needed at short notice, and it can also be used in an emergency when there is an immediate need such as a carer going to hospital.

For more information visit www.respitevictoria.org.au

Step by step cook book

This step by step cook book was developed for people with an intellectual disability to use independently or with support from family or staff. It provides an easy to use and clearly laid out guide to a range of healthy meals.

The book has been made available free of charge for use by disability and community services organisations provided the owners are properly referenced. The cook book was produced by Tracey Martin and Belinda Wester from Deakin University in consultation with ISIS Primary Care.

For more information phone 8686 5621 or download a copy from www.field.org.au/resources/cook_book/cook_book.html

Call for submissions for book project — Now I See

Submissions are being sought from parents (both mums and dads) who have a child with Down syndrome and who are keen to write about their experiences. This can include how you dealt with your child’s diagnosis, what you thought life would be like with your child and how it has turned out to be, and the gifts (for example, acceptance, respect, love, courage and delight) that child has brought into your life.

The submissions will be compiled into a book with the working title Now I See. The book is aimed at raising awareness about life today for children with Down syndrome and their parents. All submissions will be considered.

For more information visit www.nowisee.com.au

LiveAccess Project

Live Access is a new project of the Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS) to work alongside young people with disabilities, local government, venue owners, members of the music industry and the general community to raise awareness about the need to have access to music and entertainment for people with disabilities.

The project aims to raise awareness about the need for venues to be accessible and to build a website that will provide information about venues across Melbourne.
LiveAccess welcomes the involvement of people with and without disabilities and is looking for people to get involved to complete reviews of Melbourne’s live music venues, pubs, clubs and festivals.

For more information contact Bec on 9267 3712 or ydasprojects@yacvic.org.au or George on 9267 3755 or George@ydas.org

For more information about YDAS phone 9267 3755 or 1300 727 176 (rural callers) or visit www.ydas.org

Carer Supplement payments issued in July

Carers in receipt of Carer Payment and Carer Allowance should have received a Carer Supplement of $600 in July as part of the Australian Government’s pension reform. Carers who receive Carer Allowance (child) will also be paid the annual $1000 Child Disability Assistance Payment from 1 July for each child they care for.

For more information phone Centrelink on 132 717 or visit www.centrelink.gov.au

Single assessment process for Carer Allowance (child) and Carer Payment (child)

From 1 July 2010 there will be a single assessment process for Carer Payment (child) and Carer Allowance (child). The Disability Care Load Assessment (child) was introduced on 1 July 2009 for Carer Payment (child). It assesses the level of care provided rather than a narrow set of medical conditions and it will now be used for Carer Allowance (child) as well. This means that parents who qualify for Carer Payment (child) will automatically qualify for Carer Allowance (child), without the need for more forms and medical examinations.

For more information phone Centrelink on 132 717 or visit www.centrelink.gov.au

Victorian Carer Card

The Victorian Carer Card was launched in July 2010 to acknowledge the role of carers in providing ongoing support to an adult or child with a chronic condition, mental illness, disability or who are frail aged.

The Carer Card entitles the cardholder to discounted products, services or venue entry, free Sunday travel on all metropolitan and regional public transport, and two free return rail vouchers for travel anywhere within Victoria.

Carers can be parents, foster carers, partners, brothers, sisters, friends or children. To be eligible, carers must provide evidence they are a primary carer in receipt of carer income support from the Commonwealth Government through Centrelink. For carers not in receipt of a Centrelink carer benefit, a health professional can sign Carer Card application forms to confirm the applicant is an unpaid primary carer.

The plastic credit card-sized Carer Card will be issued to eligible primary and foster carers in Victoria and will display the cardholder’s name, signature and a registration number.
For more information phone 1800 658 521 or visit www.carercard.vic.gov.au

Australian Disability Parking Scheme update

Plans for the new Australian Disability Parking Scheme have been referred to the Australian Transport Council for its endorsement. Once approved, the Scheme will be incorporated in the Australian Road Rules and each state and territory will amend their local laws and regulations to reflect the new arrangements.

For more information visit www.fahcsia.gov.au

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) update - Productivity Commission Inquiry into Disability Care and Support
Extension of due date for submissions to 16 August 2010

The idea of a National Disability Insurance Scheme proposes a medical care levy to provide people with a disability with entitlements to care and support, therapy, aids and equipment, home modifications and access to the community, education and training. The Australian Government asked the Productivity Commission to undertake a public inquiry into a long-term disability care and support scheme and has extended the due date for submissions to Monday 16 August 2010.

If you think the system to support your child and family could be improved, this is your chance to be heard. It will be important to focus on what you think a new system should look like, rather than just criticise the current system, because this inquiry is about finding solutions. You can register your interest and be kept informed of the inquiry’s progress, make a submission and/or discuss your submission at a public hearing.

For more information phone 1800 020 083 or visit www.ndis.org.au or www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/disability-support

Strategic Plan for Disability Services funded respite and carer support
Submissions due 5 August 2010

KPMG is working with the Disability Services Division of the Department of Human Services to develop a statewide strategic plan for Disability Services funded respite and carer support. Individuals, carers, service providers and other interested parties are invited to provide feedback on a discussion paper that is available on the DHS website. Submissions are due 5 August 2010.

For more information phone KPMG on 8626 0978 or DHS on 9096 7246 or visit www.dhs.vic.gov.au/ disability/supports_for_people/families_and_carers/respite

Strategic Framework for Paediatric Health Services

What would you like the Victorian Paediatric Health Service system to look like? This is one of the questions being considered by the Paediatric Leadership Group, recently established by the Department of Health to advance the provision of acute paediatric services in Victoria and engage stakeholders in setting strategic directions and priorities.

The Leadership Group includes senior representatives from the Department of Health, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, senior clinicians and representatives from specialist and regional services, peak children’s service agencies, the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, General Practice Victoria, community paediatricians, health service providers and consumers.

Our Association is represented in this process and you can share your ideas with our representative Donna Henderson by sending an email to donnah@acd.org.au

Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS)

From 1 July 2010, the Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) will replace the Continence Aids Assistance Scheme (CAAS). CAPS provides a payment to assist people who have permanent and severe incontinence to meet some of the costs of their continence products.

People are eligible for CAPS if:

They are five years of age or older and have permanent and severe incontinence due to an eligible neurological condition, or
If they have permanent and severe incontinence caused by another eligible condition provided they have a valid Centrelink ConcessionCard and a health professional verifies the condition.

The biggest difference between the CAAS and CAPS is that eligible people will now receive a payment to purchase their own products instead of receiving subsidised products. Medicare Australia will administer the scheme on behalf of the Department of Health and Ageing.

For more information phone Medicare Australia on 132 011, the National Continence Helpline on 1800 807 487 or visit www.bladderbowel.gov.au

Send your items for Diary Dates and News in Brief to Fiona Gullifer by email fionag@acd.org.au or phone the Association office on 9818 2000. A selection of News in Brief items also appears in our NoticeBoard magazine.

Infoxchange

Visit the Disability News section of the Infoxchange Australia website for more news, events, activities, publications, research, services and programs.

Classifieds

The Classifieds listing is a free service for families of children with a disability in Victoria who want to buy or sell equipment that relates to their child's disability.