NEW LAWS TO REFLECT REFORMS TO DISABILITY SERVICES

ANDREW CONSTANCE MP
Minister for Ageing
Minister for Disability Services

MEDIA RELEASE

Friday 18 January 2013

NEW LAWS TO REFLECT REFORMS TO DISABILITY SERVICES 

New laws will be developed to support the NSW Government’s reforms to the funding of disability services and to facilitate the State’s readiness for the introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Minister for Disability Services Andrew Constance has today announced a review of the Disability Services Act 1993, which will be updated to reflect the modern day supports for people with disability.

“We are currently seeing historic changes to the provision of disability support and services with individualised funding packages to be rolled out from mid-2014, and the full NDIS from July 2018,” Mr Constance said.

“As part of this, legislative change is needed to help make the reforms a reality and to create a single legal framework for NSW which affects people with disability.

“We want the law to support the right of people with disability to be in control of their lives and to ensure that people with disability can participate fully in their communities. The implementation of Stronger Together 2 and the reform of disability laws will ensure that NSW models key elements of individual choice and control and reform which underpin the NDIS.’’

A series of face-to-face consultations will be held across NSW beginning in February.

The Issues Paper: Reforming NSW disability support – the fundamental legislative issues will form the basis for discussion at the consultation sessions. The companion Discussion Paper: Reforming NSW Disability Support - legislative structure and content, discusses the legal issues in more detail.

“I am calling on people with disability, their families and carers, service providers, advocates, peak bodies and government agencies to contribute to the development of a strong legal foundation to support the disability reforms,” Mr Constance said.

“Although progressive when introduced, the Disability Services Act is now out of step with the contemporary approach to delivering disability services.

“It needs to be modernised to reflect the shift towards person centred disability services, client-directed supports and individualised budgets, where the person with disability is at the centre of decision making and is able to exercise choice and control over the nature of their supports and how they are delivered.”

Contributing to the review can be done either through face to face consultation sessions or written feedback.

To find out more visit: www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/dsareview.

MEDIA:Dominic Cuschieri 0467 741 503