Wednesday, 24 December 2014

Down Syndrome Australia's continued rejection for government funding

From Down Syndrome Australia, December 23, 2014:

Ten peak disability organisations including Down Syndrome Australia will be left with no choice but to either close their doors or reduce services, with seven organisations subject to drastic funding cuts by outgoing Minister for Social Services, Kevin Andrews.

Down Syndrome Australia along with nine other peak disability organisations participated in a consortium bid to the government led by Australian Federation of Disability Organisations (AFDO), which today has been rejected. Down Syndrome Australia continues to be rejected for government funding despite people with Down syndrome being a major population group in the disability sector.

Together the ten peak disability bodies represent over 90% of Australians with disability and 83% of the identified disability groups in Australia. The organisations have over 200,000 supporters, including 140 organisations, consumer groups, service providers and carer associations.

Read more by following the link to the AFDO media release.
Statement from President and Executive Director, Inclusion Australia, 24th December 2014
... over the last couple of days there has been a lot of conjecture about the future of Inclusion Australia following our unsuccessful application for funding to the Abbott Government. Our application for funding to represent people with intellectual disability and their families to the Commonwealth Government was not successful – no applications on behalf of people with intellectual disability and their families were! ... Inclusion Australia has always been a constructive partner in the development and implementation of Commonwealth policy and while this decision is disappointing it will not silence us from ‘having a say’ in the welfare reforms that will dominate 2015 and ongoing development of the NDIS ...

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