On 8 July 2004, the Minister for Disability Services, the Honourable Carmel Tebbutt announced major changes to Post School Options (PSO) and Adult Training, Learning and Support (ATLAS) services for young people with disability. In brief, the changes involve an assumption of government responsibility for funding support services for school-leavers receiving ATLAS services beyond the current nominal two year period designated for this support (not that this time-limited period has not been applied in practice).
The changes also introduce a two-tiered program to replace PSO and ATLAS services. The first tier is a "Transition to Work" program, which will provide young people with disability with a two-year fixed term program that will assist them to access employment and employment programs. The second tier is a "Community Participation" program, which will provide young people with disability who are "not able" (sic) to move to employment with a long-term commitment to community-based support.
The changes also convert current individualised funding arrangements under the PSO and ATLAS programs to block grants to service providers under the new programs. Funding equivalents per individual for community participation programs are slashed by nearly one-half of the funds currently available under PSO and ATLAS programs. School leavers attending higher education are excluded from eligibility for either of the new programs.
Read the Minister's press release announcing the changes. Further information is also available on the Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care's (DADHC) website at www.dadhc.nsw.gov.au.
PWD condemns these changes as unjust and unworkable.
On 9 July 2004 we issues a media statement condemning the changes. There was radio coverage of this media statement on ABC radio on 10 July 2004.
Read our media statement. [Word format]
On 9 July 2004 we also wrote to the NSW Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Disability Services protesting against the changes, and seeking meetings to discuss our concerns further. The Minister has agreed to meet with us to discuss the changes on 18 August 2004. We will provide a report on the outcome of this meeting.
On 29 July 2004 we wrote to all NSW Parliamentarians protesting against the changes, and requesting them to make representations to the Minister and Treasurer to address our concerns.
PWD has participated in rallies that have been held to protest the changes. At these rallies, we have put our position statement to rally supporters and politicans.
Read PWD's position statement. [Word]
The Disability Trust and PSO ATLAS providers in the Illawarra region have called a major public meeting to discuss the changes. The meeting will be held on 7 August 2004 in Dapto.
Read more about the Illawarra meeting. [PDF]
Family Advocacy and the Australian Services Union (ASU) are both running campaigns against the changes, including planned public meetings on the North Coast, northern metropolitan area and western Sydney.
Read Family Advocacy's campaign flyer. [PDF]
Read the ASU's campaign flyer. [Word format]
Macarthur Disability Services and Families in Partnership are holding a meeting in Campbelltown on 10 August.
Read more about the Campbelltown meeting.
Wingap is holding a meeting in Eastlakes on 16 August.
Read more about the Eastlakes meeting. [Word format]
The ASU is co-ordinating further campaign activities, including attending State Parliament Question Time (31 August), attending the DADHC Eastern Sydney Consumers, Families and Carers Forum (1 September in Bondi Junction) and a protest at the State Cabinet meeting in Wollongong (7 September).
Read the ASU's campaign flyer. [Word format]
A rally will be held on 22 September at Parliament House in Macquarie Street Sydney commencing at noon for 12.30pm.
Read a flyer about the rally on 22 September. [Word format]
Action for People with Disability Inc is holding a meeting at the Dougherty Centre, 7 Victor St, Chatswood on 23 November 2004 at 6:30pm. For more information email action-for-people@swiftdsl.com.au.
On 22 July 2004 the Shadow Minister for Disability Services, John Ryan MLC, issued a media release condemning the changes.
On 2 August 2003 the Minister for Disability Services, the Honourable Carmel Tebbutt issued a media release saying that reforms to programs for school-leavers with a disability were not intended to result in a reduction of hours for participants.
On 4 August 2004 Sylvia Hale MLC of the Greens issued a media release criticising the changes.
On 6 August 2004 he Shadow Minister for Disability Services, John Ryan MLC, issued a media release announcing that the 7th annual ATLAS conference will be cancelled due to funding cuts to services.
On 10 August 2004 the Hon Dr Arthur Chesterfield-Evans MLC of the Australian Democrats wrote to Minister Tebbutt asking that cuts to the ATLAS program not be made.
On 10 August 2004 the Australian Services Union (ASU) issued at media release condemning the funding cuts.
On 13 August 2004 the Minister for Disability Services issued at media release announcing that existing arrangements for participants in Post School Options programs will be maintained, although changes to the ATLAS program will go ahead.
On 31 August 2004 the Shadow Minister for Disability Services, John Ryan MLC, issued a media release 'Carr Government backflips on backlip: Young people with a disability will be disadvantaged'.
On 31 August 2004 Ms Sylvia Hale MLC of the Greens asks two questions in State Parliament on the Post School Options Program of the Minister for Disability Services, the Hon Carmel Tebbutt.
On 22 September 2004, after the rally at State Parliament, the Council of Social Service of NSW (NCOSS) called upon the Minister for Disability Services to reverse the funding cuts to ATLAS/PSO services. The Minister issued a media release committing to continuing the changes.
Minister for Disability Services, the Hon. Carmel Tebbutt, MLC announced in a media release that entry-level funding for the new Community Participation Program would rise from $9,000 to $13,500 per person per annum, and that a fund of $1.4million would be established to provide additional support for people with high support needs.
PWD cautiously welcomes this announcement by the Minister but maintains its concerns in relation to the program.
Read the Minister's media release. [Word format]
The NSW Legislative Council General Purpose Standing Committee No 2 (the Committee) has called an inquiry into recent reforms of the Adult Training, Learning and Support/Post School Options (ATLAS/PSO) programs. The inquiry is in response to a request made to the Committee to investigate the reforms following the public meeting held by Action for People with Disability Inc in November (see PWD E-bulletin Issue 17, December 2004).
PWD welcomes the announcement of the inquiry into the appropriateness of changes to post-school programs for young adults with disability. Members of the Committee consulted key non-government organisations, including PWD, on the terms of reference for the inquiry.
The inquiry will specifically examine:
The Committee will commence the inquiry in February 2004 and will call for submissions from the general public and interested organisations. The closing date for submissions to the inquiry is 4 March 2005. Public hearings will be held following the close of submissions. PWD will be making a submission to the inquiry.
Information about making a submission can be obtained from the Committee Secretariat on telephone 02 9230 3544. Information is also available on the Committee’s website at www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/gpsc2.
PWD members are encouraged to make a submission to the inquiry and to provide input into the PWD submission. For further information, please contact Therese Sands at PWD at tsands@pwd.org.au.
Further developments
Read the Shadow Minister's press release. [Word format]
Read the Minister's media release. [Word format]
Read the Sylvia Hales's media release. [plain text]
Read the Shadow Minister's press release. [PDF]
Read Dr Chesterfield-Evans' letter to the Minister. [Word format]
Read the ASU's media release.
Read the Minister's media release. [PDF]
Read the Shadow Minister's media release. [Word]
Read Ms Hale's questions and the Minister's responses. [Word]
Read the NCOSS media release. [plain text]
Read the Minister's media release. [Word]
Read an AAP report about the rally. [plain text]
Developments as of 30 November 2004
Read PWD's media statement in response to the Minister's announcement. [Word format]
Read Shadow Minister John Ryan's media release in response to the Minister's announcement. [Word format]
Parliamentary inquiry announced
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