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NDS releases WA Pre Budget Submission 2021-23
30/07/2021
What you need to know
- NDS has identified five priorities in our WA Pre Budget Submission
- Priorities focus on sustainable, high quality supports and services, delivering great outcomes for people with disability
- Strong leadership, commitment and investment by the WA State Government is required
The annual policy centrepiece for WA state-level disability advocacy - NDS’s WA Pre Budget Submission (PBS) 2021-23 steps out initiatives that will support over 500,000 West Australians with disability, their families, workers and organisations.
Through our WA members, NDS has identified five priorities that will require strong commitment and investment by the State Government to continue building a sustainable disability sector that provides quality supports and services, as well as delivering great outcomes for people with disability across the community.
This submission provides a framework for consideration of key priorities by the WA State Government for both the 2021-22 State Budget (to be delivered in September 2021) and State Budget 2022-23 (scheduled for May 2022), given the short interval between both.
View the PBS 2021-23 [PDF] | PBS 2021-23 [Word]
Our PBS 2021-23, firstly acknowledges the commitment by the WA Government to people with disability and their families, disability sector workers and organisations over the last four years and the significant progress that has been made to building a more Inclusive WA for people with disability. This has been demonstrated through a range of initiatives introduced by the McGowan Government, many championed by NDS.
Our PBS seeks commitment to the following five priorities:
Priority 1. Invest in Workers in the Disability Sector and Quality Support Services.Priority 2. Protect the Integrity of the NDIS.
Priority 3. Build a fit for purpose Office of Disability.
Priority 4. Fund the State Disability Strategy.
Priority 5. Build Accessible Communities and Participation.
NDS’s PBS 2021-23 highlights that there has never been a greater need for leadership from the State Government to champion people with disability, to improve their economic and social participation in our community as well as investment to build a strong disability services sector that provides a quality capable workforce.
The 2021-23 State Budget priorities address further critical issues facing disability workers and the sector, including where some people with disability will “fall between the cracks” and not meet eligibility for NDIS. It also addresses the role of the newly established Office of Disability and the importance of this Office reporting directly to the Director General and Minister for Disability Services so it is not buried in layers of bureaucracy.
Our partnership with the State Government has delivered better community outcomes for people with disability and the disability services sector, but there is still more work to do so that people with disability can prosper and take their equal place in Western Australian community life.
Building and investing in our PBS 2021-23 priorities will strengthen the State disability ecosystem and further contribute to growing the WA economy through jobs, training and business innovation. As well, NDS’s recommendations will improve the well evidenced level of disadvantage that people with disability contend.
The priorities offer great opportunity for economic stimulus while building social capital, improving the everyday lives of people with disability and disability workers as well as building sustainable organisations that are such an important part of the fabric of WA community life.
For any enquiries, please contact Julie Waylen, State Manager WA, submit enquiry/feedback, 08 9208 9805