[lead]Summer Foundation Forum to Explore the Impact of the NDIS, What is Working and What Still Needs Tweaking[/lead]
The NDIS has been rolling out for three months and has been met with a mixture of hope for its potential and some frustration as a large number of people grapple with a scheme that is still evolving.
The Summer Foundation’s annual public forum, “Young people living in nursing homes and the new NDIS world” on 20 October 2016, will bring together different perspectives from across the NDIS landscape to discuss what is working, and what could be improved.
Carol Littley’s 31-year-old daughter Kirby was living in a nursing home in the Barwon trial site when she connected to the NDIS. The Littley family quickly discovered the importance of having an advocate to help navigate the Scheme to ensure that Kirby didn’t miss out on its benefits.
“You can’t expect them to cater to your wants, but you expect them to cater to your needs, and you need to stand up for those needs,” Carol said.
Support from the NDIS allowed Kirby to move out of the nursing home and back to her parents’ home, but it was a long process.
The Summer Foundation has been working to ensure that young people living in nursing homes don’t miss out on the NDIS.
“Most young people living in nursing homes are likely to be eligible for funding through the NDIS,” Summer Foundation Executive Manager Tom Worsnop said.
“However, these people and their families are often not aware that they are eligible for services and equipment.”
At the Summer Foundation’s annual public forum, expert speakers and people with direct experience of the Scheme will discuss their expectations of the NDIS and how it could be improved so that all young people with disability in Australia can benefit.
The forum will be hosted by Beverley O’Connor, presenter of The World on ABC News 24 and will feature:
- Carol Littley, Mother of a Daughter with an Acquired Brain Injury
- Tom Worsnop, Executive Manager, Summer Foundation
- Esther Kerr-Smith, General Manager, Markets and Providers, NDIA
- Peta Fensham-Cobb, Senior Manager North East, Disability Services Division,Melbourne City Mission
- Rick Morton, Social Affairs Writer at The Australian
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Young people living in nursing homes and the new NDIS world
Thursday 20 October 2016, Midday-2pm AEST
Venue: The Arena, NAB, 700 Bourke Street, Docklands, Victoria
Free event, but bookings are essential. Book now at www.trybooking.com/MTIDThe forum will be live streamed from 12.30pm via www.summerfoundation.org.au The hashtag for the event is #newNDISworld
For further comment or information, please contact:
Francesca Trimboli, PR and Marketing Manager on 03 9894 7006 or 0438 222 402 or send an email to: francesca.trimboli@summerfoundation.org.au