The Loddon Mallee Alliance is calling for long-term commitments to people with disabilities and regional disability services.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
With the federal election this weekend, the Loddon Mallee Alliance is calling for political parties to deliver real, long-term commitments to people with disabilities and regional disability services.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
The alliance is made up of various disability services in the region, including Echuca-Moama’s Community Living and Respite Services.
CLRS chief executive Leah Taaffe said they are pushing to have the voices of people with disabilities heard.
“Our big focus on the election is trying to support people with disability to have their voice heard and for them to have the opportunity to vote rather than assumed that they don't have an interest and don't want to have a say,” she said.
“There’s generally a broad agreement from government on both sides that reform needs to happen and reform absolutely needs to happen, but there’s just no plan.
“There's a lot of reform happening in the disability space at the moment and none of it is clear — there's actually no road map for the reform which affects providers' ability to plan and think about the future.”
CLRS chief executive Leah Taaffe is advocating to have the voices of people with disabilities heard this election as part of the Loddon Mallee Alliance.
Photo by
JORDAN TOWNROW
A statement from the Loddon Mallee Alliance also said the growing number of unregistered providers was a major concern to the alliance.
In Echuca-Moama there are about 100 local disability service providers but only three of them are registered.
Ms Taaffe explained that unregistered providers weren’t accountable to the commission and don’t have to follow a set framework that ensures they are doing the right thing by their clients.
Ms Taaffe said a framework similar to those in childcare and aged care was needed.
“We want to make sure that there is a framework in place where people are given choice in control but within a safe framework,” she said.
“No different than in aged care or in childcare or in education — you can't just rock up and start doing childcare. You've got to meet some basic requirements in order to be able to do those things.
“We don't have that in the disability environment, and that is a real risk to our community.”
The alliance is also calling for the Federal Government to prioritise funding and fair pricing and rural and regional equity.
As voters head to the polls, the alliance is urging voters to ask parties what their plans are for the NDIS, how they will deliver better outcomes for people with disabilities in regional Australia and ensure local voices are heard in Canberra.
