The government is moving to strengthen disability support services through a new community consultation and targeted changes aimed at improving outcomes for disabled people.
From 8 June to 31 July, Disability Support Services will seek feedback from the disability community on how key services can be improved to ensure they are more effective, better targeted, and deliver practical support where it is needed most.
Disability Issues Minister Louise Upston said feedback from the community has already delivered practical improvements to flexible funding and needs assessments, including better consideration of carers’ needs, alongside steps to improve fairness, transparency, consistency, and sustainability. She said there is still more work to do.
Upston said the consultation “will ask for people’s ideas on more flexible supports, better planning for life changes, outcomes that matter, better information and advice, making it easier to give feedback, and better respite options for carers.”
“As part of this government’s focus on carers, I have asked DSS to work on a new package of financial and other support, giving more certainty and consistency for family carers. This could include a carer payment, improved respite options, and other practical support.”
“We are looking at better ways to support family carers than formal employment arrangements. These can be complex, difficult to administer and don’t apply well to family care.”
“This work will take time, and we want to get it right. There will be further engagement with carer groups and representatives to develop the carer support package.
Upston said the government’s focus is on getting the basics of disability support right and ensuring a sustainable system that disabled people, their families, and carers can depend on into the future.