Tasmania's disability services sector has used the International Day for People living with a Disability to call on Tasmania's three political parties to address the current under funding of the Community Equipment Scheme that provides vital assistive technology such as wheelchairs to Tasmanians living with a disability.
At least $2 million in additional funding was needed for the scheme just to address current levels of unmet demand.
Over 100,000 Tasmanians are living with a disability and as many as 37,000 of these people are living with a severe or profound disability.
Many of these Tasmanians and their families depend on the Community Equipment Scheme to help meet the cost of expensive assistive technologies such as wheelchairs and alternative communication devices.
Base funding for the scheme has not increased in seven-years, despite significant increases in the cost of disability and health -related aids and equipment.
This has led to a massive black hole in regions like Northern Tasmania where each month their can be up to $100,000 worth of applications for assistance for just $6,000 in available funding through the scheme.
Most of these clients are low-income earners and have very limited capacity to save the money needed to purchase equipment that is essential to their quality of life.
We look forward to all parties committing to increase base funding to the CES as part of their policies for next year’s State Election.
When we are hearing so much about the resilience of the Tasmanian economy and now the need for tax reform, surely all parties can find in their policies just $2 million to ensure Tasmanians with a severe disability can afford the equipment they need to be able to live their lives in comfort.
Download the Our Island Our Voices statement on the Community Equipment Scheme here.