Disability
Every day, our people advocate for their clients living with a disability or mental illness – connecting them, for example, with other government or community services.
Our flagship event to foster social inclusion of people with a disability or mental illness is our annual art exhibition, connected™. Part of Melbourne’s arts calendar, connected celebrates the work of artists with a disability or mental illness and is visited by thousands of Victorians.
We’ve taken social inclusion agenda further by holding community forums as part of the exhibition, to find ways to improve the quality of life of people living in supported residential services (SRS), many of whose work graces the walls at connected.
We participate in reviews of relevant legislation with submissions, and through working groups and consultative committees.
And we support organisations working with people with a disability or mental illness through our community grants program.
National Disability Insurance Scheme
State Trustees supports the proposed National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), a no-fault insurance scheme for everyone who has, or acquires a significant disability.
If adopted, this would be a landmark social and economic reform, transforming the lives of Australians with disabilities and their families. Such a scheme would greatly improve the lives of many of our clients.
Bruce Bonyhady, one of the architects of the NDIS, gave a presentation to State Trustees about the scheme which is available here.
Bruce is a member of the Disability Investment Group (DIG), made up of business people with a direct experience of disability. This has resulted in a proposed scheme which is supported by a robust economic rationale as well as a compelling social case.
The Australian Government asked the Productivity Commission to undertake an Inquiry into Disability Care and Support. The Commission has just released its discussion paper and State Trustees has provided a letter of support, available here.
Further information on the NDIS and how you can show your support or get involved, is available at: www.ndis.org.au .
Further information on the Inquiry into Disability Care and Support is available from their website. http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/disability-support
Sources: www.ndis.org.au and www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/disability-support