Disabilities Services get an extra $1.3 billion

The Iemma Government last Friday announced a $1.3 billion increase over 5 years in expenditure for disability services.

The current DADHC budget (nearly all goes to disability services) is currently $1.5 billion per year.

There will be increases of $154 million in 2006-07, $193m in 2007-08, $281m in 2008-09, $332m in 2009-10, and $378m in 2010-11.

The bulk of it will go "promoting community inclusion" such as an expansion of post school programs ($235m), support for an extra 450 places for people leaving Community Services ($218m), support for an extra 200 places for people laving Corrective Services ($88m), another 340 specialist support places ($207m), alternatives to nursing homes for young people (300 places, $80m).

The increased expenditure will also result in more DADHC jobs - how many is not yet clear.

The PSA has been negotiating and lobbying for extra staff and services in DADHC as have parent, community and professional organisations, and the non-government welfare sector.

The Government has made a major investment in enhancement and increasing of services (as they did with Community Services in 2003 when they increased funding by $1.1 billion and provided for 1,000+ jobs).