By Luke Voogt
East Geelong’s Lynne Foreman journeyed to Canberra on Tuesday to urge the Commonwealth to fully fund a scheme that would put her “in the driver’s seat”.
The local grandmother was one of the first participants in the Federal Government’s National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which changed her life.
“I couldn’t even have a bath a under the old system,” the 61-year-old said.
“Now I can have a bath and go swimming with the appropriate funding.“
Ms Foreman uses a motorised wheelchair because she has arthrogryposis multiplex congenital, a rare condition affecting joint movement.
Her NDIS funding means she can choose from a range of carers and equipment to help her with daily activities.
“Under the old system they told you what to do – now I have the choice,” she said.
Ms Foreman even hits the waves twice a year with the Ocean Grove Disabled Surfers Association.
“Back then there was no way known I could get a wetsuit on, let alone go surfing,” she said.
“I just want to be able to do the same things every Australia can do.”
But a lack of funding for the system has left some Geelong people with a disability behind, Ms Foreman said.
“I have a friend – I won’t mention her name – but she’s having problems getting through the system.
“While the NDIS has worked well for me and lots of other members of our community, it’s not working well for everyone.
“If they can’t get into the NDIS they can’t get onto the basics.”
Ms Foreman joined seven other campaigners at Parliament House urging politicians to fully fund the scheme.
The Turnbull Federal Government announced in the 2017-18 Budget it would increase the Medicare Levy by 0.5 per cent to fund the NDIS.
The legislation passed the House of Representatives in August 2017, but has since languished in the Senate.
“The longer this uncertainty drags on, the more anxiety and stress builds within our community,” Ms Foreman said.
“We worry that soon the scheme may not be there when we need it.
“We’re calling on our politicians to get moving and show their support for Australia’s disability community.“
Ms Foreman said increasing the funding would help streamline the scheme and provide more education on how to access it.
“We want the problems with the scheme to be fixed, but we also want it to be funded.
“We don’t want the problems to become an excuse for not funding the scheme.”
