The Summer Foundation welcomes the release of the Productivity Commission’s draft report yesterday and urges the Australian Government to introduce a National Disability Long Term Care and Support Scheme that is comprehensive, targeted, inclusive and sustainable. The draft report proposes two schemes: National Injury Insurance Scheme (NIIS): A no-fault national injury insurance scheme comprising a federation of individual state and territory schemes, would provide fully-funded care and support for all cases of catastrophic injury such as traumatic brain injury, loss of limb or spinal cord injury. The NIIS would be fully implemented by 2015. National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS): to fund long-term high quality care and support including specialist therapy, aids and equipment, home and vehicle modifications and respite for carers. The NDIS would be implemented in phases starting in 2014. The draft report suggests that groups that might be considered for the early rollout stages include people with newly acquired disabilities, young people in nursing homes and people with ageing carers. The focus on people with newly acquired injuries would assist to stem the flow of young people into aged care. The early inclusion of people with ageing carers is also likely to assist in preventing some new admissions of young people to aged care. Although broadly the scheme has bipartisan support, these recommendations are by no means a certainty. We are a long way from all parties agreeing to implement this scheme. There will also be another phase of consultation prior to the production of the final Productivity Commission report on 31 July 2011. The report is long and detailed and addresses a whole range of issues that need to be considered prior to the implementation. The Summer Foundation will examine it further in the coming weeks and look at the implications for young people living in nursing homes or at risk of admission and implications for their families.Â
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