Source: National Disability Services, Canberra

National Disability Services

MEDIA RELEASE
28 June 2007

New disability funding will help ease the pressure

National Disability Services today welcomed the Australian Government's announcement of $1.8 billion over 5 years additional funding for disability services and carers.

The additional payments to carers and the new respite services will help relieve the pressure on carers. But significantly more long-term accommodation support is also urgently required. The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that almost 24,000 Australians are in need cf accommodation and respite services.

NDS also welcomes the provision of more than $ 100 million over five years to support disability business services.

Disability business services are an essential employment option for people with disability not able to work in mainstream employment. These organisations have undergone extensive reforms over recent years and it's important that the Government maintains and expands its commitment to these services.

NDS is seeking further details on the package. In particular, the nature of the new supported accommodation service is unclear.

NDS also expressed a willingness to participate in the high level inquiry to explore ways to provide greater choice and flexibility in the delivery of supported accommodation.

"There is clear evidence that non-government providers deliver accommodation support more flexibly and at a lower cost to tax-payers than government providers and we would be keen to see: that reflected in any policy development in this area," said NDS's Chief Executive Dr Ken Baker.

NDS also expressed the hope that the additional funding for accommodation and respite services does not close off the Australian Government's offer to match new funding from States and Territories for accommodation and respite services.