On 30 September 2010 the Senate referred the following matter to the Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report by 31 March 2011:
Access to options for and services to assist people with a disability and their carers to plan for the future, including:
(a) Inadequacies in the choice and funding of planning options currently available to people ageing with a disability and their carers;
(b)Ways to ensure the continued quality of life for people with a disability as they and their carers age;
(c)The types of options and services that could be developed to help people with a disability and their carers to plan for the future; and
(d)Any other matters which would assist carers to find an adequate and appropriate answer to the question: 'What happens when I / we can no longer care?'.
Please note:
The terms of reference for this inquiry have been amended from the inquiry of the 42nd Parliament.
Submissions received during the previous inquiry will be considered by the committee. Those who submitted to the previous inquiry need only re-submit should they wish to update or amend their earlier submission.
Explanatory note:
The committee is aware of the Productivity Commission's current inquiry into 'Disability Care and Support'. The Productivity Commission is examining a range of options and approaches for a government National Disability Long-term Care and Support Scheme, and assessing the costs, cost-effectiveness, benefits, and feasibility of such a scheme.
The Community Affairs References Committee does not wish for its inquiry to overlap with the Productivity Commission's inquiry. The Community Affairs References Committee inquiry is therefore focussed on options for and services to assist people with a disability, and their carers, to plan for the long-term future, rather than on service planning and delivery.
Information on the Productivity Commission's inquiry can be found at:
http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/disability-support.
For further information, contact: Committee Secretary
Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Australia