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Sutherland Shire
Disability Accommodation
Action Group Inc.
Media Release 10th December 2009
Postcards to the Premier from Mothers on the Edge!
The Community supports the push for more Supported Accommodation for our disabled
sons and daughters
“Our Federal and State politicians constantly tell us to produce evidence of community support to bring about
change in Policy and increases in funding for disability services” says Janice Marshall, Vice President of
Sutherland Shire Disability Accommodation Action Group Inc (SSDAAG Inc – the Group). “So here it is!”
Founded in 2006, the Group recently instigated a postcard mailout to the community in the Sutherland Shire
seeking support for more supported accommodation for their sons and daughters with a disability. The response
was overwhelming, receiving around three thousand replies.
Members of the Group will present the postcards to Minister for Disabilities Paul Lynch and Director General of
ADHC, Jim Moore today, but will retain them in order to personally deliver them to new Premier Kristina
Keneally. Janice added, “The community is leading the way on the issue of supported accommodation and it’s
time politicians followed suit and put it at the top of their to-do list. Sticking their heads in the sand will not make
it go away. In fact it’ll only get worse as ageing parents are literally dying on their feet. Putting our most
vulnerable and needy citizens at the top of the list would be a good place for real leadership to start. The Group is
encouraged by Premier Keneally’s comments in relation to helping the vulnerable and, given her time spent as
Minister for Ageing and Disability, they hope her words are backed up by action.
Group President Judy Foord says, “Politicians need to ensure that supported living/accommodation is much better
funded than it has been over the last 15 years of neglect. A public commitment to increase funding in the second
phase of Stronger Together to at least $2 billion will translate comment into commitment. So far we’ve too much
of one and not enough of the other. While the creation of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is in its
feasibility study phase we cannot wait another 5 or 10 years because most of us won’t be around. We need action
now.”
The Group is calling on the government to urgently:
o
Collect meaningful data on the need for supported accommodation/living;
o
Introduce individualised funding for supported accommodation
o
Assist families to plan for the future by time framing expected transition from the parental home into
supported accommodation/living;
o
Fasttrack “shared equity” strategies to help ease burden;
o
Increase funding in Phase Two of Stronger Together to meet the need by least $2 billion.
“SSDAAG currently has 173 member families, half of whom have parents over the age of 55. These families are
care-worn and worn out and needing care for their adult children sooner rather than later. Thirteen of the families
would love to start a planned transition for their son or daughter immediately into a supported living environment.
But no such luxury exists,” added Public Officer, Kate Tye.
______________________________________________________________________________
Media Contact: Janice Marshall - 0419 272 409
Judy Foord - 0407 947 004
Kate Tye - 0411460 988
NEWS 
