Media release – Disability Voices Tasmania, 27 June 2024
Crisis in community disability advocacy and support
Disability Voices Tasmania is saddened to see the news today of the crisis facing Autism Tasmania.
Media release – Kristie Johnston, Independent Member for Clark, 28 June 2024
State Government Must Step in to Support Disability Groups
Independent Member for Clark, Kristie Johnston, has called on the State Government to urgently provide interim financial support for the three disability advocacy organisations who will cease to operate following federal funding cuts.
Autism Tasmania, Disability Voices Tasmania and Brain Injury Association of Tasmania are funded by grants from the Department of Social Services, but now face an uncertain future following the cuts which take effect on 30 June.
Ms Johnston said this is a devastating blow to Tasmanians living with disability and said the State Government needs to step in immediately with a short-term solution until adequate funding can be found.
“This matter shouldn’t be up for debate. The State Government must provide immediate and adequate funding to ensure that Tasmanians living with a disability have access to the invaluable support that Autism Tasmania, Disability Voices Tasmania, and Brain Injury Association Tasmania provide. With one in four Tasmanian families being impacted by autism, it’s essential that this organisation (Autism Tasmania) which has been helping Tasmanians for over 30 years is thrown a lifeline until a long-term solution can be found,” Ms Johnston said.
“It’s heartbreaking for the staff and volunteers of these organisations who work tirelessly to support and help people living with disability navigate and understand the sometimes-complex support networks available to them. Without immediate intervention, Tasmanians living with disability are at real risk of missing out on the vital services and connections they need,” Ms Johnston said.
Ella Haddad MP, Shadow Minister for Health, 28 June 2024
Eating disorder clinic set for Liberal-Lambie cuts
The RHH currently employs four nurses in an eating disorders clinic, at least two of those nurses are set to have their jobs cut – as early casualties of the Liberal-Lambie Coalition health cuts.
Since the clinic began operating, there has been a massive 50% reduction in admissions of people into hospital with eating disorders, because of the early intervention work being done by this front-line workforce.
Diagnoses of eating disorders has increased significantly over the last decade or so, with the average age of diagnosis decreasing as well. Today, around one in five young women have an eating disorder, and around ten per cent of Australians will have an eating disorder at some point in their life.
Early intervention is key in treating eating disorders successfully, and cutting these nursing staff will mean a cut to services.
This will have a disastrous effect on the people needing treatment as well as adding pressure to the already struggling health system, as hospital admissions will inevitably increase.
It is appalling that in the middle of a health crisis, the Liberal Party is looking at cutting essential front line nursing staff like this.
Are the Jacqui Lambie Network MPs aware they are propping up a Government that is going to cut this vital and successful service? Do they know what other front-line service cuts they are complicit in?
If nurses that treat young Tasmanians with eating disorders aren’t front-line workers, then who is?
Another disability organisation set to close amid Liberal-Lambie budget disaster
Disability Voices Tasmania, an NGO that advocates for people with disability, is set to close amid sweeping cuts in the Liberal-Lambie budget disaster.
The organisation made a desperate plea to Minister Jo Palmer for funding, and it’s imperative that the Minister comes to the table with the funding required to keep the organisation going.
The situation has become even more urgent with the loss of Autism Tasmania. The State Government signed a pledge before the election to provide state-based funding to Autism Tasmania of $300,000 a year for three years – an election commitment they now seem to be walking away from.
Disability Voices Tasmania is the only state-based diverse disability advocacy body in Tasmania, so failing to fund Disability Voices Tasmania is another example of a broken promise and failure to deliver from this government.
Clearly this government is comfortable making empty promises and has no shame in breaking them. The question is, are the Jacqui Lambie Network, who claim to be about transparency and accountability, comfortable propping up a minority government that has no concept of either?
Media release – TasCOSS, 28 June 2024
Cessation of key services another blow for communities in need
TasCOSS calls on the state and federal governments to act urgently to ensure key services continue for the 26% of Tasmanians with disability,
At a time when Tasmanians are presenting to community services in growing numbers, TasCOSS CEO, Ms Adrienne Picone, said Autism Tasmania, Brain Injury Association of Tasmania and Disability Voices Tasmania are vital services for people with disability.
“The work they do improves the lives of people with disability, as well as benefiting the broader community through awareness raising and education, which are essential to creating a more inclusive society,” said Ms Picone.
“Many Tasmanians will be rightfully concerned today at news that these organisations have been left with no choice but to close their doors due a lack of funding.
Editor’s note: BIAT, although unsuccessful for a major grant application, will not be ‘closing their doors.’
“The importance of adequately funded services for people with disability was recognised in December last year when the state, territory and federal governments signed an intergovernmental agreement to ensure people with disability receive the supports they need, regardless of whether they are eligible for the NDIS, with the costs of providing ‘foundational supports’ shared 50-50 between the Commonwealth and states and territories.
“We call on the Tasmanian Government to closely examine the consequences of cuts to services, and engage in robust conversation with the organisations affected around solutions to ensure Tasmanians do not miss out on essential support.
“These organisations form part of the broader community services industry, which provides a vast array of supports and services to Tasmanians across their life span.
“The essential work of this industry ensures more Tasmanians, including Tasmanians with disability, stay well, are engaged in education, training and employment, and feel supported and connected in their communities.
“All levels of government must do better at recognising the contribution of community services through funding that is viable and secure.”
Media release – Cecily Rosol MP, Greens Disability Services spokesperson, 28 June 2024
Rockliff Must Step in on Disability Funding
The Federal Government’s failure to fund disability organisations will see critical advocacy and support services shut their doors after today. The Rockliff Government must step in immediately to save them from closure.
Organisations like Autism Tasmania and Disability Voices Tasmania have clearly been hanging on in hope, to no avail. For things to get to this, is an indictment on both Federal Labor and the State Liberals.
If these organisations close, it will be a devastating loss for Tasmanians with a disability who rely on them not only for support, but also advocacy.
Disability Voices Tasmania are a clear voice, lobbying – and where necessary, criticising – governments. Without them, so many Tasmanians will be silenced.
Autism Tasmania is our peak body for autistic people and their families. If they cease to operate, Tasmania will be the only state without one. It’s shameful.
The Greens raised the lack of funding certainty in Parliament, and wrote to Disability Services Minister Jo Palmer about it. We are yet to hear back – but the State Liberal Government can’t ignore this.
The Rockliff Government cannot possibly be progressing their Disability Inclusion and Safeguarding Bill on the one hand, and ignoring the needs of disability organisations that help include and safeguard people with disabilities on the other.
Jeremy Rockliff, who lobbied his Federal Labor colleagues for $200M for an unneeded stadium, should be on the phone today to Anthony Albanese to guarantee funding to disability organisations. If the Federal Labor government refuse, the State Liberals must pick up the bill.
