A Tragedy In Numbers
18/04/2011
Kelly Vincent MLC says newly released figures are proof of an ongoing tragedy in South Australia.
The latest unmet needs data, released by the State Government last Friday, shows hundreds of people with disabilities who are in critical need of services are going without essentials.
“These figures, while disturbing when just read for the numbers, gloss over a far darker reality,” said Ms Vincent.
“What the neat table in the State Government’s latest report fails to show is the suffering of all the individuals who make up the numbers on this list. Each of these people go without something essential every day, and it profoundly affects their quality of life.”
The report lists the number of people with disabilities who are in need of, but not getting, places in accommodation, in-home personal support, community support, help with community access and respite care.
“The most disturbing cases here are the ‘Category One’ numbers,” says Ms Vincent. “These are people the Government says are at critical risk of homelessness or harm to themselves or others.”
“There are 972 instances where people in this situation are not provided with the necessary services. That is almost one thousand cases where the Government just can’t find the money to help individuals in horrific circumstances.”
The report’s introduction outlines some of the measures put in place to address the unmet needs list.
“These can only be described as woefully inadequate,” said Ms Vincent. “The Government’s own report shows we need accommodation services for more than 1000 people, and they are boasting about providing 25 extra places.
“While Ministers refurbish their offices and Adelaide Oval undergoes a $535 million facelift people on the unmet needs list are enduring life without the basics. It is time for the Minister for Disability Jennifer Rankine to look at these figures not as numbers, but as a symbol of the amount of suffering and despair which is caused by a failure of her Government.
“This list must be cleared immediately. Since it seems to take the Government so long to collate this data and release it we need to act now so these figures do not become irrelevant. Research shows numbers of people with a disability is on the rise and we cannot wait for a National Disability Insurance Scheme, nor can this situation be eased by reference to the upcoming release of the Blueprint for Disability. These people are suffering now and they need help now. It’s time for the State Government to open its wallet and make a difference.”
The full report – “The Provision of Disability Services in South Australia December 2010” can be viewed at
http://www.sa.gov.au/government/entity/1646/About+us+-+Disability+Services/Who+we+are/Plans+and+reports
