By ALESHA CAPONE
A DISABILITY advocacy group has welcomed the State Government’s decision to fund trials of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Estelle Fyffe is the CEO of Annecto which services the West through its Footscray, Yarraville and Werribee offices.
The not-for-profit group is committed to increasing community inclusion and choice for people with a disability, older people, their carers and families.
Last week, Ms Fyffe welcomed the Victorian Government’s commitment to fund an NDIS test-run, after intense lobbying by the Prime Minister and Federal Lalor member Julia Gillard.
By 2014 the NDIS will ensure 20,000 people with significant disabilities will start to receive care and support across their lifetime, regardless of how they acquired their disability.
The Federal Government has committed $1 billion in this year’s budget to support the first stage of the scheme, which is the first of its kind within Australia.
Ms Fyffe said the NDIS would help address demand for disability services created by the booming population expansion in the West.
“It will be a great benefit for the West, as communities continue to experience the fastest and largest growth of any Australian region,” she said.
“With population growth and community ageing, the need for support will increase.
“The NDIS will become an important part of the lives of an increasing number of people over the decades to follow.
“As the NDIS can enable people to pursue employment, affordable housing and other community-based initiatives, people once seen as clients of disability services, will potentially now be able to pursue those things that will enable them to participate in the economic and cultural lives of their community.”
