Anna Stephens and India Bohanna The Conversation December 18, 2013
People living in the remote communities face system failures in health care, disability services, housing and infrastructure. Flickr/publik
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) presents an overwhelming opportunity to revolutionise the care and support given to Indigenous people. But the equity of the scheme is already at risk, with treasurer Joe Hockey yesterday warning the scheme will have to be made more efficient.
Our research for the NDIS this year revealed that people living in the remote communities face a complex web of system failures spanning health care, disability services, housing and infrastructure.
Without political will and bi-partisan commitment from all tiers of government to address the chronic gaps in infrastructure and health-care delivery, the NDIS scheme can’t deliver on its promises in very remote Indigenous communities.
Current shortcomings
We investigated acquired brain injury (ABI) within Indigenous populations. Talking with people living on Cape York and in the Northern Territory, we were shocked by the low level of understanding of the ABI condition – by carers in remote communities, through to highly qualified medical practitioners.
We found no reliable, culturally appropriate instruments to measure and assess the extent of one’s impairment, without which eligibility for the NDIS would be difficult to establish. This could prevent thousands from benefiting from the scheme.
The 2010 National Prisoner Health census found 41% of female and 38% of male prison entrants reported having sustained at least one head injury that led to loss of consciousness. Knowing that Indigenous people are over-represented in the prison population, many live with an ABI………..
The success of the NDIS will surely be measured by how the reforms benefit Indigenous people with disabilities: Australia’s most in need. Without political will and adequate investment in communities, people with disabilities will be required to leave their homes to spend their support package; or miss out entirely.
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