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What's the
Issue?
For many people
with physical disability, our ability to
participate in society relies on adequate
provision of assistance and practical support
with activities that most people take for
granted. We might need help to get in and out
of bed, to shower, use a toilet, get dressed,
make food, keep the house tidy, go shopping,
take notes at college, use a photocopier,
etc. The list is almost endless.
What's the
Problem?
This kind of
support can be needed wherever we make our
contributions to family, community or
society: at home, at work, at school and in
social, recreational and community settings.
But, in our judgment, the policies, planning
and service provision we need are currently
inadequate.
The system
isn't working as it needs to work.
There is no coherent
policy objective for evaluating
programmes.
There is no clear,
coherent or cohesive framework for
programme development and policy
implementation.
Bureaucratic
complexities and administrative concerns
have overtaken the needs, aspirations and
interests of people with
disability.
What's the
Evidence?
As many as 200
people with physical disability are on the
waiting list for services from the Home Care
Service 'Virtual Pool', which was supposed to
meet the needs of people with 'high levels of
support' requirements.
At least 100 people
with physical disability are currently on the
waiting list for assessment of their need for
self-managed personal support services
through the Attendant Care Programme of the
State Government.
Approximately 60 people
already allocated funding for support through
the Attendant Care Programme have no service
because of a dispute between the funder and
service providers over charges and
costs.
People with physical
disability who want to live at home are being
required to live in hospital, rehab units
and/or nursing home facilities that are
inappropriate for their current needs because
funding is not available for community
support.
Some people have been
discharged from specialist units in
metropolitan hospitals to hospital wards in
regional NSW, rather than their own homes
with adequate support.
Delays in processing
applications to the Service Access System
(SAS) have prevented people with physical
disability from establishing or sustaining
support arrangements, creating avoidable
difficulties in sometimes desperate
circumstances.
Difficulties are being
experienced with access to services of the
Home Care Service of NSW, resulting in
growing waiting lists; delayed assessment and
referrals; sometimes extreme difficulty in
augmenting existing service hours; and a lack
of consistency in service standards across
the State.
What do we want to
achieve?
PDCN has been
co-ordinating a campaign to improve the
quality of services available throughout NSW
to assist people with physical disability to
live in their own homes with the support they
need.
On 8th April,
representatives of 21 organisations met to
agree a strategy for campaigning.
On 6th May,
28
organisations signed a letter to Disability
Services Minister, Mrs Faye Lo
Po' calling for
Government action urgently.
WE CALL FOR
An immediate
injection of sufficient funds (on a
recurrent basis) to eradicate the current
waiting list for the HCS 'virtual
pool'.
An immediate
injection of sufficient funds (on a
recurrent basis) to eradicate the waiting
list of applicants to the Attendant Care
Programme.
Urgent action by
funding and service provider agencies to
resolve the dispute about costs and charges
relating to the Attendant Care Programme so
that the 60 people allocated funds can use
those funds to live at home.
Additional funds,
reorganisation of existing funds and
better management of current resources to
develop, extend, improve and replicate best
practice in the Home Care Service of NSW,
consistently across the State.
The creation of a
State-wide Advisory Committee (led by
DADHC) similar to the PADP Committee led by
NSW Health. It would to reform, re-structure
and modernise personal assistance and support
services in NSW, reporting to the Minister
for Disability Services.
Action Toolbox
…
WHAT CAN YOU
DO?
Do you know
anyone who's had trouble with services like
Home Care, Attendant Care Programme, the
Virtual Pool or the Service Access System? Or
have YOU had a problem? Tell
PDCN.
Write a letter to your
local State Member of Parliament urging him
her to raise the issues in this ALERT in
Parliament. Personalise your letter. Send a
copy to
PDCN.
Write a letter based on
this ALERT to Mrs Faye Lo Po', Minister for
Disability Services, Level 25, 8 Castlereagh
Street, Sydney NSW 2000. Urge the Minister to
meet with representatives of the disability
sector. Send a copy to
PDCN.
Read and use the campaign
pack, available from PDCN on FREECALL 1800 688
831 (ask for Sharon or Craig) or email:
pdcnsw@pdcnsw.org.au
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The
Physical Disability Council of NSW Inc (PDCN) is
the peak body representing people with physical
disabilities across New South Wales.
PDCN is involved in information, education and
systemic advocacy for, and on behalf of, people
with a physical disability.
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