DISABILITY CARE AND SUPPORT INQUIRY

Areas of current concern/gaps for families with child/children with a disability from Learning Links staff .

1.	Families on Centrelink benefit/ low income especially those families with uncertain accommodation tenure have regular hardship in meeting rent/ utilities costs/ and every day expenses. These families regularly need to access material aid community services to attempt to manage   this circumstance. This regularly creates high levels of family stress which can also impact on the implementation and access of therapy/ behavioural strategies etc.
2.	Low income families have infrequent/ minimal access to community recreation opportunities due to the issue of minimal disposable income and transport difficulties/ no car.

3. Low income families when accessing Medicare services to support disability   have difficulty meeting the gap fee after to rebate.  This is especially relevant with accessing a paediatrician as the gap following the rebate may be still approximately $200.

4. Families on low income rarely access breaks away with available funds going to therapy/ equipment etc.  This can impact on carer wellbeing and the development of positive family relationships which are the corner stone of care of the child with a disability.

5. Many families which we see have more than one child in the family with a disability which often compounds issues around costs and also carer stress.

Sandra Samuel
General Manager, Family Services
Learning Links
 
______________________________________________________________________________________
Learning Links
A non-profit children's charity helping children who have difficulty learning and their families since 1972.
 
ABN: 71 097 577 636
10 Railway Pde, Penshurst NSW  2222 

Telephone:  (612) 8568 2200      Email:  mail@learninglinks.org.au 
Facsimile:  (612) 9580 4777       Website:  www.learninglinks.org.au