Ageing Disability & Home Care -- Increased Funding Announced

Central Council, 19 June 2006

Report adopted

On 26 May the NSW Government announced a 10 year plan to address the acute shortfall in Disability Services.

The first five years of this plan includes a significant boost in funding of $1.3 Billion. This amount does not include CPI or wage increases i.e., the amount will be adjusted to accommodate these increases.

Parts of the package involve:

• a wider range of specialist accommodation options for people with a disability - including a range of different dwellings to meet individual needs, locations and changing circumstances
• Development of specialist accommodation - large residential centres will continue to close over time with some of the properties being redeveloped into village-style accommodation and support
• 100 new case managers at $53 million over five years providing assistance to 4,000 people with a disability and their families per year
• Expanded training for government and non-government disability workers ($15 million over five years)
• Continuing increases in intensive, innovative and flexible support packages for children and young people and their families (an additional 1,800 places a year by fifth year)
• 200 new therapy places for children with a disability in 2006/07 (960 places by fifth year)
• 80 additional flexible respite places for children with a disability in 2006/07 (450 new respite places by 2010/11)
• Expansion of community participation programs from 3 days a week to 4 days and 5 days for people with very high support needs
• 180 new places for innovative supported accommodation options in 2006/07 (990 places by 2010/11)
• 130 places in day programs for adults with a disability in 2006/07 (780 places over five years)
• 70 intensive in-home support places in 2006/07 (320 places over five years)
• New flexible community support packages (40 over five years)
• Up to $80 million over five years to prevent young people entering nursing homes, improve the circumstances for those there and development of alternative models of support for these people.
• 400 new therapy places for adults with a disability in 2006/07 (1,920 by 2010/11)
• 670 additional flexible respite places for adults with a disability in 2006/07 (810 by 2010/11)

The full implications of the changes for our members will be closely assessed and we will continue our consultation with the Department to ensure the process is transparent and fair.