Page 1802 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 7 June 2006
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Thirdly:
The Commonwealth and the States/Territories collaborate in the development of an agreed national policy framework that commits to systemic change to resolve this issue …
Fourthly:
All levels of government. Federal, State/Territory and Local. to work with the National Advocacy Alliance for Young People In Nursing Homes in the development of a sustainable service system that is responsive to the needs of young people with high and complex care needs and that allows individuals and their families to exercise their right to choice.
Fifthly and finally:
The Commonwealth Parliament of Australia instigates a Parliamentary Inquiry to examine sustainable and equitable financial arrangements and a national community care service system for young people with high care and/or support needs.
The Stanhope government has demonstrated its commitment to these objectives by delivering on high-quality, flexible, person-centred services and supports for the disability population. This government’s commitment is evident by the level of funding allocated in the 2006-07 budget, and previous budgets, to help relieve this situation.
The budget brought down by the Treasurer yesterday included the joint initiative with the Australian government to reduce the number of younger people in residential and aged care and to provide appropriate accommodation options and support for this group of people. This means that younger people will have access to a wider range of lifestyle choices than is currently available in the ACT, including options to live in normative community settings. In addition to the $42 million funding provided for disability support services in 2003, the 2006-07 budget includes a significant increase in funding to the disability sector.
The ACT has the highest level of growth of per capita expenditure on disability services across all jurisdictions. From 2000-01 to 2004-05 the ACT per capita expenditure increased by 69 per cent, nearly twice the jurisdictional average of 38 per cent. The number of people accessing individual support packages has increased to 161, representing a recurrent funding increase of $5.9 million over the past three years. This means that many people who previously relied primarily on family or friends to provide them with essential support can now engage paid carers. The ACT government, in partnership with the commonwealth government, has also supplied further funding to aged carers totalling almost $1.2 million over four years.
In 2006 a local area coordination or LAC program commenced in Gungahlin and Woden. This will assist individuals to be less reliant on traditional formal disability services, through working with them to establish better resource links and support networks within their local community. This government has also committed to improving the long-term outcomes for families, children and adults who have very high
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