News
Opportunities for people with a disability
April 20, 2011
Minister calls for correct support for people with a disability in visit to Caboolture
The Minister for Disability Services, Mental Health and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, the Hon. Curtis Pitt MP, has re-iterated the importance of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
On a visit to Endeavour Foundation’s Learning and Lifestyle service in Caboolture, Minister Pitt spoke about "striking the best deal for Queenslanders" as the public consultation period for the Productivity Commission’s draft report on a NDIS closes at the end of April.
"It’s of national importance that the long-terms needs of people with a disability, their families and carers, are met with the right supports at the right time," he said.
"Take the people I’ve met here today.
"They are sons and daughters and their ageing parents need to know that when they are gone, someone will be there to look after them.
"That’s what a National Disability Insurance Scheme is all about."
The Productivity Commission’s draft report on a NDIS, released in February, recommended a complete overhaul of the disability system.
It described the current system as "underfunded, unfair, fragmented, and inefficient, and gives people with a disability little choice and no certainty of access to appropriate supports."
The final report for the Federal Government will be released in July and Mr Pitt has formed a working party of key stakeholders to study the recommendations to extract the best outcome for people with a disability, their families and carers.
"We need to get our response right so that when we put our case to Canberra we can be confident of striking the best deal for Queenslanders," he said.
The Member for Pumicestone, Carryn Sullivan, joined Mr Pitt in encouraging the community to make known their opinions about a NDIS.
"Our local views could well shape the future of such reforms, so it’s important that our voices are heard," she said.
Endeavour Foundation’s Area Manager for Disability Services in the Sunshine Coast region, Tony Vidler, was delighted with the visitors.
"It’s so important that Minister Pitt and Carryn Sullivan visit Endeavour Foundation as we try to raise the profile of a National Disability Insurance Scheme," he said.
"We must keep banging the drum as a NDIS would change the lives of people with a disability."
Minister Pitt enjoyed meeting and interacting with the service users and went on to praise staff at Endeavour Foundation’s Learning and Lifestyle service.
"You would be hard-pressed to find carers more committed to looking after the needs of people with a disability than right here at the Caboolture centre," he said.
Members of the Caboolture community can send in a written submission on the National Disability Insurance Scheme by emailing disability-support@pc.gov.au by 30th April 2011.
For more information, contact Endeavour Foundation.
Endeavour Foundation is one of Australia’s largest service providers for people with a disability.
Endeavour Foundation supports for more than 3,350 people with a disability from more than 230 locations throughout Queensland and New South Wales.
As well as the Learning and Lifestyle service in Rowe Street, Endeavour Foundation provides support in Caboolture with three accommodation services, In-Home support and Post School Services.
Endeavour Foundation is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a series of events throughout 2011 including the Big Community Day Out on the Cultural Forecourt on Brisbane’s South Bank on Sunday May 15th 10am-4pm – this is a major free event for everyone with music, dance, street theatre, and much more.
CONTACT
David Coles Media and Communications Officer
P (07) 3908 7109
M 0419 248106
F (07) 3253 7271
E d.coles@endeavour.com.au
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