South Australian State Budget 2013-14 - What it means for the disability community
On 6th June the South Australian State Government handed down the State Budget 2013-14 at Parliament House. JFA Purple Orange has issued the following statement in response to the budget allocations relevant to the disability community. Feedback is invited.
Significant budget commitment for disability: JFA Purple Orange is pleased today's State Budget includes a significant commitment to fund disability support. The budget includes $723 million in funds for full implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), DisabilityCare Australia in South Australia by 2018/19. JFA Purple Orange CEO Robbi Williams says today's budget provides a new level of certainty for people living with disability, their families and the South Australian Community. He says:
"After years of underfunded, marginalising arrangements, there is now real hope that people will be able to access fair and reasonable funding to move towards a good life."
Mr Williams says he applauds the State Government for strengthening its capacity to assist people living with disability during the transition period to the NDIS through the allocation of an additional $108 million over the next five years for services and equipment. He comments:
"This will be welcomed by the hundreds of acutely vulnerable people living with disability on the Category 1 Unmet Need waiting list who might benefit from this funding. As at 30 April 2013 there were 1950 South Australians on the waiting list for accommodation support, including 926 in Category 1, meaning their situation is critical because they are homeless or at immediate and high risk to themselves or others. Additional funding will make a real difference to people, though it is unlikely to clear the waiting list entirely, meaning there may still be people in desperate circumstances not receiving the support they need."
Mr Williams says he also hopes a portion of the additional funding will be used to assist people living with disability to move out of Highgate Park (formerly the Julia Farr Centre). He says:
"There are many people living at Highgate Park and other facilities who want to move on from the institution and re-join community life. We urgently encourage the State Government to assist people to move out without further delay."
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