Source: Office of Minister for Disability and Community Services Ms. Katy Gallagher MLA

EXTRA SUPPORT FOR DISABILITY SERVICES IN 2007

Minister for Disability and Community Services Ms. Katy Gallagher MLA has today reflected on the additional resources that have been provided in the areas of disability services which have enabled people with disabilities to receive supported accommodation, increased carer support, respite and community services.

"This is particularly timely given that the International Day of People with a Disability was celebrated on 3 December with a number of events coordinated by the ACT Government," Ms. Gallagher said.

"In its 2007 Budget, the ACT Government allocated additional resources for disability services in the Territory providing $15.3 million over four years to enable people with disabilities to receive extra support and assistance," Ms. Gallagher said.

Since 2003, increased recurrent funding has provided the following:

• Individual Support Services (ISP) – growth from $5.3m up to $8.3m
• Post School’s Options (PSO) 1.025 mil
• Mature Carers programs $1.73mill
• Introduction of a Local Area Co-ordination Service (LAC) to encourage people with disabilities to become active participants in the planning of their services - $500,000
• Increase in respite services including special respite for older adults $768,000
• Development of specialist services for families with children who have intensive support needs including children with challenging behaviours including $410,000
• Autism assessment and support $436,000
• Establishment and implementation of an intensive care and treatment program for people with dual disabilities and complex behavioural problems $1.242m
• Initiation of a community based support service for youth and young adults on the north side of Canberra $415,000
• Development of specialist accommodation service for people who have an acquired brain injury $440,000
• Increase recurrent funding to community providers to provide increased flexibility in the delivery of services $550,000
• Improvement to ACT Taxi Subsidy Scheme:
• 50% subsidy for all users $241,000
• 75% for people who require WAT. 
• Introduction of lift fee $148,000
• Change in policy to include access to under 16years $160,000
• Increase cost for Disability Support Staff $760,000
• Young People in Residential Aged Care $1.314m

Following the Additional Funding for Disability ACT in the 2007-08 Budget:

• Approximately 60 people will receive recurrent support services:
• Accommodation Support 20 Places (growth of 14% since 2003)
• Community Access 20611 hrs (growth of 30% 2004)
• Centre-based respite 1054 bed nites (growth of 11% 2003)
• Respite in own home 1100 hrs (growth of 65% 2003)
• Community Support 170 people assisted (growth of 45% 2004)

"People who have been assessed as having high support needs requiring ongoing sustained support services and have been receiving non recurrent funding for the past two years approx have received $1.49m extra in funding," she said.

• Children of aging carers who require accommodation support  $920,000
• PSO new graduates $370,000
• Additional respite bed nights $220,000

"This is just some of the extra assistance that has been able to be provided over the last year with the added boost to funding for disability services."

"In 2007 we have achieved a great deal in this area and this will be built on in future years," Ms. Gallagher concluded.

Statement Ends

Date 5 December, 2007

Media Contact: Angie Drake  Ph: 6205 0139(w)     0408 092 016(m)