Submission to: Productivity Commission Review into Disability Care & Support

Scope has taken the opportunity to provide input into the Productivity Commission’s review into Disability Care & Support, as a major provider of disability support services in Australia.  Our submission raises significant issues and endeavours to provide realistic recommendations to address these issues.

Scope believes that the current system for the provision of disability care and support requires a significant transformational change.  The move from the existing rationed system to a fully funded entitlement based system is the next step in the evolution of funding of disability supports in Australia.

In summary Scope believes that:

• Australians with a severe or profound disability need increased resources and support to engage with their community, get a job where possible, and live a happy and meaningful life.
• The existing disability services system needs increased financial commitment to meet the current, future and unmet needs of Australians with a disability.
• Establishing an entitlement based, fully funded social insurance Scheme to provide long term care and support for Australians with a severe or profound disability will provide greater certainty for the future for people with disabilities (PWD) and their families.
• People who have multiple disabilities and complex needs, by reason of the difficulty they have engaging with the community, must have priority of access to supports funded by the Scheme.

Read the submission

Read our Submission to: Productivity Commission Review into Disability Care & Support (PDF, 414 KB).

This submission addresses the following: 

• Scheme Design & Operation - Covering a broad range if issues including Scheme eligibility, Scheme access and the scope of funded supports.
• Implications & Impacts on the Sector - Implications of moving to an insurance model of funding for disability supports, and the support required for the disability support sector.
• Scheme Establishment & Transition Arrangements.

Recommendations for the development of the Scheme are provided for each issue.