The NDIS, housing and Indigenous Australians living with a disability

Abstract

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provide new arrangements for meeting the needs of people with a disability. The objective of the NDIS is to improve the wellbeing and social and economic participation of people with disability and to remedy the existing arrangements which were found to be “...inequitable, underfunded, fragmented, and inefficient” and leaving people living with a disability few choices. The NDIS should provide opportunities for people living with a disability to make more informed choices about how they live their life, with their family members and friends treated as full partners. The advocated people-centred approaches are intended to allow all people living with a disability, quality of life, community presence, participation and social inclusion. Housing and living environments are fundamental to the quality of life to all people. Anecdotal reports state that some Indigenous people with disabilities are unable to get out of their homes due to a lack of housing modifications and purpose built independent living units are vacant. Other people live in situations where their primary caregiver is disabled, while other individuals have had to move away from family and kin due to inappropriate housing or a lack of community infrastructure. The sub-standard public infrastructure makes excursions from homes extremely difficult. Daily activities such as shopping and attending ceremonies, church or other cultural and sporting events are not possible without significant reliance on family carers and friends. This paper will discuss some of the issues in delivering appropriate housing for Indigenous Australians People living with a disability.