Reshaping the Disability Services Act 2006

Council on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland undertook a situational analysis regarding the impacts of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) roll out on people as they age, in particular between 50 and 65 years of age. We were particularly interested in how older people understand, access, navigate and negotiate the interface between these systems, and in capturing pressures, useful supports, and emerging issues.

For the purpose of this submission, we have extracted findings and recommendations from our analysis of the information which was collected through public forums e.g. national and statewide discussions online regarding the reforms, a literature search, and consumer interviews. We did not focus on a particular cohort, rather we sought to pull together a snapshot of how consumers who identify as older people or who provide assistance or support to older family members, navigate supports across system interfaces. The voices collated were those of highly health literate consumers, who demonstrated capacity to self-advocate and/or advocate for others across different support spaces and with multiple parties e.g. service providers, health professionals,
community organisations and government. Therefore, they cannot be taken as representative of how the average Queensland consumer moves at the aged care/disability/health system interface; however, they offer valuable insight into the types of issues consumers encounter.

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