Page 3076 - Week 08 - Thursday, 25 June 2009
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increased 65 per cent since 2001, when we came to office. In dollar terms, this is a rise from $41.5 million in 2002-03 to $68.6 million in 2009-10. This substantially increased funding has gone directly into services and support for individuals and their families.
Accommodation support places have increased by 31 per cent. Community support hours have increased by 55 per cent. Community access hours have increased by 70 per cent. Respite bed nights have been increased by 11 per cent and flexible respite hours have increased by 96 per cent.
Members will recall that, in 2002, the Gallop inquiry found that the rights and interests of people with disabilities had not been adequately or effectively protected by the policies and systems operating in the ACT. The Gallop inquiry was, in effect, since it addressed issues present before we came into office, an indictment of the stewardship of the former Liberal/Michael Moore government. It said that there was an urgent need to introduce change, noting that this would require a commitment by the government, new vision, service innovation and strong leadership. We have provided this leadership, vision and innovation, delivering substantial reform to disability services.
Importantly, this was achieved in partnership with the disability sector, in particular, people with disabilities and their families. Our achievements have been built on a systematic strategy, a mix of practical and innovative steps developed through listening to the community. Overall, we now find ourselves at a point where individuals with disabilities and their significant support networks participate significantly in the development and ongoing improvement of disability services. These services are more person centred and focused on the needs of individuals. The sector itself has become more accessible and transparent. Information services are more readily available and better crafted to assist people with disabilities and their families to make choices that are appropriate for them.
The 2009-10 ACT budget saw moneys directed to further assist the social inclusion of people with disabilities. The government provided an additional $3 million over four years to assist people with a disability, who are currently being supported in hospital, to transition to suitable housing and provide ongoing support.
ACT Health and the Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services continue to work together and directly communicate with individuals to identify support needs and commence transitioning people to appropriate long-term housing and support arrangements. An advisory group, comprising people with expertise in key aspects of personal support, has been established to progress the prioritisation of people who are medically cleared for discharge from the ACT hospital system, to receive appropriate community-based support for their ongoing care needs. Each individual will have different needs. Therefore, each support package will look different. The first plans are expected to begin to be implemented from 1 July 2009.
The $3 million over three years delivered by the Labor government for people transitioning from hospital is in stark contrast to the policy put by the Canberra Liberals at the last election. The Liberals’ pathways from hospital policy only funded
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