PM announces assistance for people with disabilities, their families and carers

The Prime Minister, John Howard, has announced a $1.8 billion package of assistance for people with disabilities, their families and carers, to start from 1 July. It includes an inquiry into provide further assistance, focusing on developing a market for private disability accommodation.

It is on top of the $3.275 billion which the Commonwealth has already offered to the states and territories for delivery of disability
services, and some of it will match the commitment of new funding from some states which have indicated extra funding priorities.

Mr Howard called on the other states and territories to put additional resources into their continuing areas of responsibility for disability services, including more supported accommodation.

Details of the extra Commonwealth funding –

Helping children with disability and their families:
– $721.2 million over five years for a new annual tax free payment of $1,000 for around 130,000 families with children with a disability under the age of 16. People who are entitled to payment of the Carer Allowance (child) as at 1 July this year will receive the $1000 payment.
– $23.6 million over five years for existing specialist services for
children with a disability which both support the developmental needs of children and respite care for families to have a break or work.

Helping older carers and their children:
– $562.6 million over five years for 1,750 places in 175 new supported accommodation service with priority access for parent carers who are aged 65 years or more, who have provided care for a significant period of time for their adult son or daughter.
– $270.3 million over five years to give around 7,500 older parent
carers access to around 800 ndditional in-home and centre-based respite services to assist them to continue in their caring role.
– $115.3 million over five years will provide a new in-home support service for people with disability who are being cared for by their
parent carers aged 65 and over. Services will also be provided to enable a son or daughter previously cared for by their parent to continue to live in the family home after the parent can no longer provide care.
– New transition support services with funding of $13.8 million over five years will help older carers and their adult son or daughter with disability work through their options and plan their future care needs.

More support for people in disability business services

The Government will provide more than $100 million dollars over five years to ensure additional support is available to people in disability business services.

Disability accommodation – inquiry into delivery options

To address the longer term, the Government will provide $1.5 million to set up a high level inquiry to explore ways to provide greater choice and flexibility in delivery of supported accommodation, including the potential for support from corporate and philanthropic sources to develop a market for private disability accommodation.