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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 05 Hansard (Friday, 14 May 2004) . . Page.. 2117 ..

The Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services was established in July 2002. This was in response to both the Board of Inquiry and the Reid Review recommendations and acknowledged the key roles that these program areas had on people’s lives and well being.

In recognition of our responsibilities to provide for the well being of people with disabilities, the Government established Disability ACT as a dedicated disability agency within the new Department.

Its mandate was to achieve a vision for all people with a disability “to achieve what they want to achieve, live how they want to live, and be valued as full and equal members of the ACT community”.

Government provided an additional $2.5 million in the 2002-2003 Budget and a further $1.5 million in the 2003-04 Budget to assist Disability ACT meet its mandate – a total of $4.0 million. Additional funding for respite services – $4.0 million over four years – was also provided to ACT Health.

One million dollars was allocated to the Post School Options program to assist young people with a disability to transfer from school to employment and adulthood.

$500,000 was allocated to early intervention services for children with autism, and to facilitate the employment of additional psychologists, therapists and social workers. A further $460,000 was also allocated to establish the single therapy service – Therapy ACT.

Importantly, $800,000 was allocated in 2002-03 and a further $600,000 in 2003-04 to support those people with high and complex needs.

The remaining funding was allocated to the new Taxi Subsidy Scheme, day support programs, and to progress reforms and sector development.

Disability ACT has significantly increased opportunities for individuals, families and carers to influence the development and implementation of supports and services provided for them.

Five joint community and government reform working groups provided advice and guidance to assist Disability ACT in the formulation of policy in areas including access, eligibility, funding, quality, housing, legislation and workforce.

A new Disability Advisory Council was established that combines the functions of the former Council and the Disability Reform Group, and has a significant role in advising Government on issues of strategic importance to people with a disability in the ACT.

In July 2003, the Government launched the Access to Government Strategy, encouraging ACT Government Departments and instrumentalities to meet their responsibilities to people with a disability as defined by the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act and the ACT Discrimination Act.

The Individual Support Service within Disability ACT has established a Community Linking and Needs Assessment Service. This service provides a single point of entry to Disability ACT services and funding.

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