Rally to make every Aussie count
SUPPORTERS of the National Disability Insurance Scheme on the Coffs Coast made the call on government that "Every Australian Counts" and it appears Prime Minister Julia Gillard has taken note.
Hours after NDIS rallies were held across the nation on Monday, Ms Gillard announced the Federal Government will fund its share of the scheme when the Federal Budget is announced next week.
"From the middle of next year select launch sites around the country will begin serving people with disability and from the middle of 2014 it will service 20,000 people," Prime Minister Gillard said.
"These launch sites will be placed where people with significant and permanent disability, their families and carers will have their needs assessed and will start to receive personalised are and support."
A rally in Brelsford Park showed widespread support for the disability insurance scheme, which would see a revolution to the way people with disability, their families and carers are supported by government.
Recommended by the Productivity Commission, the NDIS proposes a modern, person-centred support system to help hundreds of thousands of Australians with disabilities.
"This demonstration shows the National Disability Insurance Scheme needs to be rolled out to regional areas now not in two years time," Coffs Harbour NDIS rally organiser Cath McGrath said.
"When I heard the NDIS Rallies would be held in six major cities across Australia I thought that was great, but there were no rallies for regional areas, so I organised one here in Coffs Harbour."
The NDIS was first suggested after an intensive 18-month investigation of the unmet needs of people with disabilities.
To find out more go to www.everyaustraliancounts.com.au
