Lucy Wicks (Robertson, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

In rising to speak on this motion today, I want to note that, under the coalition government, the NDIS has reached a significant milestone, with more than 200,000 Australians now receiving support through an approved NDIS plan. The coalition government has made strong progress with the NDIS and will continue to work to improve it to support Australians living with a disability.

The NDIS, of course, is all about supporting people with a disability to live their best life their way and to achieve their goals. I'm a strong supporter of the NDIS, and I'm pleased to say that, across the Central Coast, more than 5,000 individuals have an approved plan and are being supported by the NDIS. Many of these people may be receiving support for their disability for the very first time, having never received state or Commonwealth support before the NDIS was established.

This government is building and delivering the NDIS for an estimated 460,000 Australians by 2020. It's one of the most important social reforms in Australia's history, and it's now fully operational in New South Wales, the ACT and South Australia, with ongoing rollouts in remaining states and territories. It not only has an important impact on individuals and the families it supports but brings with it opportunities for growth and employment. In 2016, for example, we were able to announce the establishment of an NDIA office in Gosford, in my electorate of Robertson, with 42 new jobs. I'm really pleased to be able to say that this office is now operational on the ground floor of the new ATO office in Gosford.

As a passionate supporter of the NDIS and the important role that it plays in the lives of so many people with disability and their families, I think it is fantastic to see just how many people across the Central Coast are benefiting from this important reform. In my electorate we're lucky to have a number of outstanding NDIS providers—organisations like Options Disability Theatre Company, which I've spoken about in this place before and which never fails to bring a massive smile to my face. I first heard about this amazing group called Options at a screening of a short film they produced, called Killing Hope. It was there that I first found out about the amazing work that Options Disability Theatre Company does for our community. Since then, I've had the privilege to continue to share in their journey. It's been wonderful to watch Options going from strength to strength, recently unveiling a new facility in Tuggerah and living the motto of that short film that I saw: you can't kill hope; it's absolutely impossible. Alex Copeland is just one success story from Options. He had a dream to start his own baking business, and with the support of Options he launched his own small business, Mr Alexander's Sweet Eats. He's an incredible baker and he's made some award-winning cakes, cupcakes and biscuits. Alex even completed his first motorised cake, an intricate owl with a turning head. Alex is just one example of the way that the NDIS supports people with a disability in my community to achieve their goals.

Earlier this year I had the chance to visit Lasercraft Australia, an organisation that's been operating on the Central Coast for the past 30 years and employs 30 part-time workers with a disability. Lasercraft provides a supportive environment and an opportunity for their supported employees to develop workplace skills, enjoy the social aspects of work and be involved in contributing to the community. Lasercraft's employees are also supported by an NDIS plan and, with the help of Lasercraft, are working towards their own life goals.

Fairhaven at Point Clare is another outstanding organisation that's supporting people living with disability and helping them to follow their dreams. When I first came to the Central Coast, over 30 years ago now, the school that I attended when we first moved there was actually co-located on the grounds of Fairhaven. So I have to say I've always felt a very, very special association with Fairhaven and all of the work that they do. I want to pay tribute to the chairman, Clive Blunt; the CEO, Monique Cardon, who both do an incredible job; and the participants at Fairhaven, who are inspirational.

Can I also take this opportunity to pay tribute to carers in our community during this Carers Week. Across the nation, 2.7 million Australians are unpaid carers. I'd like to acknowledge the enormous sacrifice and contribution of carers in our community. Carers Week is an important time for everyone in our community to say thank you to each and every carer, and I'd like to put on record my gratitude to each and every one of them in my community and, indeed, across the nation. Thank you for your compassion and for all that you do. Just as carers' work never stops, neither should our appreciation of them.

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