WYNDHAM families, carers and advocates of people with disabilities say funding the national disability care scheme will help create a fairer future.
The scheme, known as DisabilityCare, is one step closer with Victoria agreeing to a full rollout of the plan by the end of the decade.
The federal government will spend $2.6 billion to establish the scheme, while the state government will contribute $2.5 billion.
Under the deal, Victoria will also receive $244 million a year from 2019-20, to be funded by an increase in the Medicare levy.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard said the scheme would improve the lives of 4100 people in her Lalor electorate, which includes Wyndham, Melton and parts of Hobsons Bay.
Werribee resident Ruth Mackay, a teacher of children with intellectual disabilities and a former carer of her sister who has Down syndrome, said the scheme would “open doors”.
“Finally, we are looking at this holistically. It sees the whole person, the whole-life approach,” she said.
Ms Mackay said the financial burden of caring for people with disabilities could be crippling.
“A wheelchair takes a long time to organise. One family I worked with had to do fund-raisers so they could afford to buy a wheelchair, and another had to cash in their superannuation to buy a vehicle that would fit a chair, and that’s not even including fitting out their house.
“It will help give families their lives back again, and give independence to adults with disabilities.”
Kim Marsland-Kelsey, of disability support service Mambourin, said the scheme would be a massive boost for families and people with disabilities.
“It’s going to be really groundbreaking in helping families and assisting our clients.”
Ms Marsland-Kelsey, who runs the Werribee-based Support and Training to Employment program, providing clients aged 18-21 with work experience, training and skills for independent living, said life could be stressful for people affected by disability.
“It’s going to be a great relief for families and clients, who are going to have more options and other services coming to assist them.”
The Medicare levy will increase from 1.5 to 2 per cent from July 1 next year.
