Dignity for Disability MP Kelly Vincent.
NATIONAL: A South Australian politician is concerned Aboriginal people living in the remote APY lands have been left in the dark about details of the state’s trial of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Unlike other states where trials will happen in specific locations, South Australia has opted for a state-wide NDIS trial starting in July 2013 focusing on children aged from birth to five years old.
The age limit will be increased to 13 years the following year and 14 years in 2015.
Dignity for Disability MP Kelly Vincent visited the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands last week on a fact-finding mission to examine health, education and disability issues among the indigenous communities.
Ms Vincent said nine months out from the start of the NDIS trial in South Australia, Aboriginal people living in APY land communities had no clue about how the trial would work locally for disabled children.
“There has been absolutely no consultations with people living on the lands about the incoming trial of the National Disability Insurance Scheme,” she told AAP.
“A government employee (based in the APY lands) working for the department of social inclusion and communities responsible for the trial was asking me for information about what shape the trial would take.”
She said Indigenous communities “were being left behind and thrown scraps”.
Comment has been sought from the South Australian Minister Ian Hunter and the Federal Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).
A spokesman for FaHCSIA said the department’s launch transition agency had joint responsibility with the SA government for consultations.
AAP
APY lands out of loop on disability scheme
Dignity for Disability MP Kelly Vincent.
NATIONAL: A South Australian politician is concerned Aboriginal people living in the remote APY lands have been left in the dark about details of the state’s trial of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Unlike other states where trials will happen in specific locations, South Australia has opted for a state-wide NDIS trial starting in July 2013 focusing on children aged from birth to five years old.
The age limit will be increased to 13 years the following year and 14 years in 2015.
Dignity for Disability MP Kelly Vincent visited the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) lands last week on a fact-finding mission to examine health, education and disability issues among the indigenous communities.
Ms Vincent said nine months out from the start of the NDIS trial in South Australia, Aboriginal people living in APY land communities had no clue about how the trial would work locally for disabled children.
“There has been absolutely no consultations with people living on the lands about the incoming trial of the National Disability Insurance Scheme,” she told AAP.
“A government employee (based in the APY lands) working for the department of social inclusion and communities responsible for the trial was asking me for information about what shape the trial would take.”
She said Indigenous communities “were being left behind and thrown scraps”.
Comment has been sought from the South Australian Minister Ian Hunter and the Federal Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).
A spokesman for FaHCSIA said the department’s launch transition agency had joint responsibility with the SA government for consultations.
AAP
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