Page 3041 - Week 10 - Wednesday, 14 August 2013
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The initial phase, which has now commenced in other states while we are commencing that transition with the enhanced service offer, sees a co-funded enhancement of ACT disability and mental health services and a program of work to prepare the ACT prior to the transfer of ACT clients to DisabilityCare from July next year.
The first program of work includes the recently launched enhanced service offer. The enhanced service offer will be available to eligible people in the ACT in a manner which will be sustained when they transfer to DisabilityCare and will be delivered within the principles of consumer choice and control.
The first round of the enhanced service offer grants, which are being managed through Disability ACT, closed last Friday. As I think I have mentioned today, I am pleased to advise that at the time applications closed, Disability ACT had received 1,300-and-a-few applications. This is a fantastic demonstration of the momentum that is building as we lead up to full implementation of DisabilityCare and shows the hunger that our community has for this significant and meaningful social change.
The enhanced service offer is designed to meet the disability-related needs of the broadest possible range of people. All ACT residents under the age of 65 with ongoing support needs related to a disability were eligible to apply for a grant. Successful applicants will have funding paid directly to them to purchase the supports and services they need. Funding will be between $5,000 and $12,000 per applicant and can be used to purchase things from equipment through to vocational training, learning aids or respite and therapy services.
One of the biggest changes with DisabilityCare is the chance for consumers to determine how they will spend their package of funding and what supports and services will best meet their needs and enhance their quality of life.
The second round of grants will commence on 30 September, I understand, and I am confident that individuals who have not, for various reasons, applied in the first round will see the opportunity and will certainly be encouraged to apply in the second round. We know from our highly successful quality of life grants that these grants make a difference. The total funding for the enhanced service offer is $7.7 million, and we know that this is just the start of what will be an enormous change for many in our community.
There has been much mirth made of repetition within various reports tabled and associated with the budget and the estimates process. I would like to draw to members’ attention that repetition is indeed almost one of the aspects of many of those opposite—indeed, of you, Mr Assistant Speaker Doszpot.
I have in front of me questions on notice for estimates, No 188, No 189 and No 190, just to name the first batch I found. They were all identical in word, in punctuation, in every way, shape or form—signed by you. I have not got the date on which the letters were signed, but I suspect very strongly that those opposite, through you, Mr Doszpot, have indeed put three identical questions on notice—typed, signed and delivered courtesy of the members opposite.
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