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Greater choice for
people with a disability
P
eople with a disability will
have greater choice in the
services they use – and
how and when they use them –
under a major revamp
of disability services in
South Australia.
The Premier, Hon Jay
Weatherill (pictured), has
announced the State
Government will radically reform the
provision of support for people with
disabilities, following the release of the
disability blueprint ‘Strong Voices’.
Federal Disability Reform Minister,
Hon Jenny Macklin, and State Disabilities
Minister, Hon Ian Hunter, joined Mr
Weatherill to make the announcement
at Novita Children’s Services’ Regency
Park Centre, in December.
Under the changes, instead of the
system dictating the services individuals
receive, people will be able to choose the
services that are most important to them
for their needs and aspirations.
Everyone who receives six or more
hours a week of disability services will
receive a personalised budget and will
be given the option of receiving direct
payments to manage their support needs.
“For too long, people with disabilities
have been told what services they will
receive, when and how they will receive
them,” Mr Weatherill said.
“They have been told what time they will
eat their meals, what time they will go to bed.
“We want to provide greater opportunity
for people with a disability to take control
of their own lives and make decisions just
as any other South Australian does.”
Mr Hunter said the Government had
been investing record amounts of money
into supporting people with disabilities and
providing more services than ever before,
but the current system is nearing the limits
of its effectiveness.
“Money will be needed to fix this
problem – but we first need a fundamental
rethink of the way we provide
disability services,” he said.
“One of the clear messages
from the disability blueprint
was the most authoritative
voice in making these
decisions should be the
person with a disability.”
The revamp of disability
services is the primary
initiative in the State Government’s
response to the disability blueprint,
with the Government supporting 16 of
the 34 recommendations with others
to be considered in the Budget process.
“These changes will ensure South
Australia is well placed to implement
the new National Disability Insurance
Scheme,” Mr Weatherill said.
Measures to be introduced would
include:
Everyone who receives six or more hours a week
of disability services will receive a personalised
budget and will be given the option of receiving direct
payments to manage their support needs
• Drafting a new Disability Act.
• Providing $600,000 to support an extra
120 people with a disability to access
training and gain employment.
• Developing a disability justice plan,
which will improve protection for
people with a disability in the criminal
justice system.
• Creating a new role for the Ministerial
Disability Advisory Council to
independently monitor disability reform
and service standards and report their
findings to parliament.
• Improving public transport access,
including routine scheduling of
wheelchair accessible buses, and
better timetable information about
wheelchair accessibility, such as a
mobile phone application.
“The magnitude of this task is
considerable,” Mr Hunter said.
“This is a first response – the Government
will be working with the disability sector to
consider this report further.
“This is a long-term plan that presents
us with a once-in-a-generation opportunity
to reform the disability sector.”
POLICE
ASSOCIATION
OF SA HELPS
NOVITA
A
t the prestigious Police
Association of South
Australia (PASA) centenary
celebration dinner held at the
Adelaide Town Hall in December,
Novita Children’s Services was
presented with a cheque for
$50,000 by Association President,
Mark Carroll.
Novita was selected as the
beneficiary of the inaugural
PASA lottery initiated as part
of the Association’s centenary
celebrations, promoting the
benevolence of the police
community.
Thanking the Association,
Novita Chief Executive, Glenn
Rappensberg, said: “These much
needed funds will go a long way in
helping Novita continue to deliver
its life-changing services to
children and young people living
with disability right across the State”.
He said PASA and the important
role it plays in supporting its
members as well as the community
through its benevolence was
“truly outstanding”.
“Novita was honoured to be
chosen as the beneficiary by
PASA and looks forward to
continuing the positive relationship
it has with the Association and its
members in the years ahead,”
Glenn said.
Novita had also presented its
Community Partnership Award
to PASA at its annual 2011
Supporters’ Cocktail Party,
in recognition of the excellent
support the Association and its
members have generously
provided to Novita.
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