Source: National Disability Services

MEDIA RELEASE

30 May 2008

Disability Ministers confirm new funding

While stating that much more needs to be done, NDS has welcomed confirmation from Disability Ministers today that new funding will begin flowing immediately to ease the nationwide demand for disability services.

State and Territory Ministers have agreed to provide $900 million, on top of the Australian Government’s $1 billion, and in addition to indexation. This reflects an election promise made by Federal Labor – although some of the States’ “new” money has already been announced and/or built into budget forward estimates.

Ministers also agreed that work will commence on addressing the critical issue of workforce shortages.

“This work is urgent,” said NDS’s Chief Executive Ken Baker. “Unless disability service providers have the capacity to recruit and retain suitable staff, then commitments to expand quality service provision will fail in implementation.”

“One factor eroding workforce capacity is the indexation rate applied to government grants. The Commonwealth’s indexation rate is less than half the growth rate of average weekly earning across Australia. Any serious workforce strategy must rectify this.”

Ministers have agreed to deliver national consistency for the provision of aids and equipment. This is a commitment which NDS had sought. Currently aids and equipment schemes, which assist people with disability to maximise their independence, sit outside the CSTDA and are fragmented, with large gaps and inequities.

Federal, State and Territory Disability Ministers met in Sydney today to further negotiations towards a new Disability Agreement. The new Agreement will not be signed until early in 2009, in line with the reform of Specific Purpose Payments.

National Disability Services is the peak industry body for non-government disability services. Its purpose is to promote and advance services for people with disability. Its Australia-wide membership includes 630 not-for-profit organisations, which support people with all forms of disability.

Contact:    Dr Ken Baker, Chief Executive, National Disability Services

Ph: 02 6283 3203, Mbl: 0409 606 240