Ann Sudmalis (Gilmore, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this House:

(1) recognises the important work being done in Australia to support people with disability;

(2) celebrates the winners of the Tenth National Disability Awards 2016; and

(3) notes that International Day of People with Disability was on Saturday 3 December 2016.

The coalition government recognises the important work being done in Australia to support people with disability. Who would have thought that we would have over four million people in Australia with a disability? Why do Australians try to take such good care of those with a disability? Firstly, we have a responsibility to the United Nations, because we are a party to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I am not sure, however, that the people I meet who are heroes for those with a disability are compelled for that reason. I believe they look after them because they have the most beautiful and compassionate hearts. Almost 2.7 million Australians care for someone with a disability, a medical condition, mental illness or someone who is frail due to age.

Some of our local heroes in the role of disability carers and advocates include Lynn and Frank Condello at the Yattah nursery, looking after their granddaughter. They also include Annette Pham who is the mother of Liam, a teenager who is profoundly disabled. She is an amazing advocate for the changing-places toilet. Most of us never even consider how hard it would be to travel with a young adult who needs to be lifted from a wheelchair to be changed or toileted. Shawn and Gina Burns and their son Mack were told Mack would never be able to communicate, but due to their dedication he is able to give answers by foot tapping. They have been working for years to increase awareness of the need for inclusivity. John and Rebecca Nevin, who hold fundraising nights called Drawtism, are raising awareness for children with autism.

These are just a few of the examples of the brilliant work done by friends, family and advocates in Gilmore. We have many support groups, families and organisations for potential employment, giving structure, care and work experience for those with a disability. Yumaro, in Moruya, is a standout operation for Gilmore. Their CEO, Mark Brantingham, and his superb team are at the centre of operations, where they rightfully showcase their business enterprise, their client training and their great family-inclusive atmosphere. Next time you buy cleaning cloths from Bunnings you can rest assured you are supporting this amazing disability enterprise. We have Slice of Life, we have Flagstaff and we have Greenacres, all ensuring that adults with a disability have a full and meaningful life.

In 2016 we celebrated the winners of the 10th National Disability Awards and I was proud to see the dementia project delivered by Kiama Municipal Council named winner of the Excellence in Community Partnerships Award. Kiama has become a role model in catering for residents with dementia. The award is well deserved; it is a partnership between Alzheimer's Australia and the University of Wollongong. Simple things like changing signs and making them easier to read and understand makes the world of difference for people with dementia. The result? It is easier for people to stay in their homes and in the communities they know and love. Another local hero, Brendan Auslebrook, captains the Jervis Bay Wild cruise that provides access for those with a disability to go dolphin watching. Jackie Kay is the Sailability champion and Culburra Men's Shed builds the boats for her group. We truly have a terrific community helping those less fortunate.

On a formal note; there is a 10-year national policy framework for all levels of government to improve the lives of people with disability; the National Disability Strategy 2010-2020 is Australia's overarching framework for improving the life outcomes of Australians. One of the key already commenced directions of this strategy include efforts to increase employment opportunities for people with disability and to assist them to remain in employment;    development of the NDIS;    implementation of recommendations arising from reviews into disability standards for accessible public transport, education and access to premises.

We all recognise the National Disability Insurance Scheme is a critical policy, and delivery of services has bipartisan parliamentary support. The NDIS is one of the largest social and economic reforms in Australia's history, and it is the result of the enormous dedication of many people all over Australia. It supports people with a permanent and significant disability that affects their ability to take part in everyday activities. The transition phase is an exciting period for the NDIS. We have a large number of people joining the scheme during a short period of time, which naturally enough will also give rise to some significant challenges, not only for those with a disability but also for their carers and provider organisations. The most important aspect of this is to work constructively together to ensure the outcome is the best it can be for those with a disability, as it is their quality of living that is most important.

This year, we celebrate the 25th year of the Disability Discrimination Act, originally put together in 1992, which makes it unlawful to discriminate against people with disability in a whole range of areas. An important date for our calendars this year is Sunday, 3 December—the International Day of People with Disability. We should all work out how to showcase these wonderful people, their wonderful carers and all the terrific provider organisations that we have.

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