Support firms for disability scheme

By Nicole Williams
COUNCIL’S backing of the National Disability Insurance Scheme has buoyed local disability support organisations.
Wallara and Options Victoria are pleased Greater Dandenong councillors approved a motion to write to the Federal Government in support of the scheme, which would double the federal funding to $12 billion per year.
Wallara CEO Phil Hayes-Brown said the decision continued a long history of support from the council.
“We are delighted and welcome the council’s support of this scheme,” Mr Hayes-Brown said.
“They’ve got a great history of support in this area.”
Mayor Roz Blades tabled a motion at last Monday’s council meeting, calling for the council to approve a letter of support to the Federal Government, which was passed by all councillors.
“I’m aware of families need, their sacrifice and how hard they have to work to provide for a disabled relative,” Cr Blades said.
“I think those families members are heroes and if this insurance scheme can provide some certainty for them in the future and allow some good providers into the system, it will be brilliant.”
“This council is supportive its people with disabilities and the carers and all family members.”
Mr Hayes-Brown said the scheme was a revolutionary piece of national reform that would make the world of difference to people with disabilities.
“It will involve doubling the amount of money in the system and that changes the world for people with a disability,” he said.
“Increasing the funding for people with a disability gives them the power to choose suppliers of services and decide what they want to do. It gives them more freedom and more choice”
Mr Hayes-Brown and Phillip Toovey, executive officer of Options Victoria, agreed that the additional funding would create a new market place for service providers – which would be fantastic for the people using those services.
“From my point of view, it is going to be good for people with disabilities so as a service provider, it is good for us too,” Mr Toovey said.
The Federal Government is currently working on state reform for the scheme, which is expected to be trialled in one state in 2014 and will go national in 2015.