Constant delays in the roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme have caused ongoing uncertainty in communities right across the Border region.
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Twelve months ago there was considerable concern that this would simply further disadvantage those living with a disability and their families.
In turn, service providers would continue to be hamstrung in being able to do what had to be done. They did not want the system that was eventually introduced to be a watered-down version, then delivered to the community at a trickle.
At the time, Albury’s Helen Wilson – whose 26-year-old daughter had a severe intellectual disability – spoke of how the scheme seemed to be getting further away.
And that was despite all the noise at both federal and state level that the commitment to the scheme was resolute.
Now though comes the news that a great deal of this uncertainty for Border communities could be about to be consigned to the past.
That is because the scheme is scheduled to be rolled-out in the region in two years’ time.
And to make things even better – on paper anyway – there is expected to be an end to the crisis model now in place that has caused long waiting lists.
Albury is proposed to get access to the scheme by July of 2017, then the North East by the following October.
Border disability services have welcomed an end to the uncertainty, but also pointed to the benefits of being in the second round of allocations.
As Martin Butcher (pictured) from Wodonga’s Disability Advocacy and Information Service points out, missing out on the 2016 roll-out means the services to be provided might end up better targeted.
The Border Mail wholeheartedly backs the observation of Aspire Support Services chief executive officer Nigel Stone that “we’re certainly hopeful it will change people’s lives”.
This is about real change so those living with a disability and their families and support networks can create futures that the majority of us take for granted.
The community needs to continue to give its support as this enormous transition takes place, and be grateful for the lobbying that has taken place to reach this point.