Source: National Disability Services Canberra

MEDIA RELEASE
8 June 2007

The need for a substantial boost in funding for disability services has been confirmed by today’s AIHW report into current and future demand for specialist disability services.

The report conservatively estimates that 23,800 Australians with disabilities have a need for accommodation and respite care that is not being met. This figure is significantly higher than AIHW’s previous 2001 estimate of 12,500 people in need of accommodation and respite care.

A bipartisan Senate report earlier this year recommended that both levels of government substantially increase their funding for disability services.

The Australian Government has subsequently offered to match dollar-for-dollar any State or Territory commitment of new funding for accommodation and respite care. It has made this offer as part of current negotiations for a new Commonwealth State Territory Disability Agreement. National Disability Services (NDS) has urged States and Territories to respond positively to this offer.

NDS is also urging the Commonwealth to offer funding that realistically reflects the rising cost of service delivery and the future growth in demand for services.

“Unless governments take systematic and cooperative action now the crisis in the provision of disability services will worsen,” said NDS’s Chief Executive, Ken Baker.

“For every 1000 Australians with a severe or profound disability only 49 receive an accommodation support service; and only 111 out of every thousand receive any level of respite care. Governments should set annual targets that are significantly higher than these levels and commit the funding needed to reach these targets.”

NDS, the peak body for disability service providers, represents more than 600 not-for-profit organisations around Australia.

Contact: Dr Ken Baker, Chief Executive, National Disability Services,
Ph: 02 6283 3203, Mbl: 0409 606 240.