Minister And Shadow Face 150 Families Of People With Disability Tonight

Embargoed to 25 October

Minister And Shadow Minister To Face 150 Families
Of People With Disability
Tonight: People With Disability Demand A Home Of Their Own,
Choice And Flexibility


The NSW Minister for Disability Services, Peter Primrose, the Shadow Minister Andrew Constance and Greens spokesperson Ian Cohen, will tonight face 150 families of people with disability who seek their commitment to a Supported Living Fund (SLF). The event, part of the SLF campaign, seeks to reduce the likelihood of family breakdown by creating choice and flexibility. The issue was discussed in SMH 22 October http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/support-for-living-would-save-lives-from- despair-20101021-16vxg.html

"As the 2011 state election approaches, people with disability and their families have a right to know where our elected representatives stand on this important issue," said campaign organiser Ms Belinda Epstein Frisch. "Will they support funding arrangements that allow people with disability to live in their own home or will they maintain institutionalisation and a rigid `one size fits all' approach?

The Minister, Shadow Minister and NSW Greens will be marked on a score card as they answer the question: "If you form Government after the NSW State election in March 2011, will you commit to implement the Supported Living Fund in the first year of government?" The scorecard will be distributed throughout NSW as the state election approaches.

The SLF campaign has been endorsed by many non-government disability advocacy and service provider organisations throughout NSW. They seek a commitment that includes: (1) additional funds to extend the target group to include families that are not in crisis; (2) enabling people with disability to have a home of their own, using a combination of paid and unpaid or informal support; and (3) enabling families and people with disability to direct their own support.

"Families expect answers tonight. If the NSW Government wants to move from crisis intervention to prevention, from having sole responsibility for long term support, to being a partner in support, it must encourage and support family initiative while families still have the capacity to partner."

"The Supported Living Fund is the answer," said Epstein-Frisch. "We want the NSW Government to implement a preventative partnership approach, following the example of other governments in Australia and internationally."

Date: Monday 25 October
Time: 7.30-9pm
Venue: Ryde Eastwood Leagues Club, 117 Ryedale Road, West Ryde NSW 2114

Belinda Epstein-Frisch 0402 149 869.

Details of the Supported Living Fund http://www.family-advocacy.com/supported-living-fund-for-nsw.html

SOURCE: Family Advocacy