Minister for Disability Issues"
In recent years the non-government organisation sector has made a united call to ensure our country's family carers are appropriately recognised and supported. At the 2005 Carers New Zealand Summit, there was a resounding call for a Carers' Strategy for New Zealand. I was pleased to announce at this year's Summit that our government has responded to the call and we will develop a national Carers' Strategy in partnership with Carers New Zealand and the NZ Carers' Alliance.
We value the contribution of carers and want to support them.
Our New Zealand Carers' strategy will be similar to the one developed in the United Kingdom. The issues faced by carers are international concerns and we can learn from the experiences of other countries to identify challenges and solutions.
However particular issues identified by New Zealand carers include improving support for them, improving information about caring and helping carers to combine paid employment and caring responsibilities, or to make the transition to paid employment once their family circumstances allow.
Carers devote large parts of their own lives to the lives of others. By their effort, their patience, their knowledge and their compassion they transform the lives of the people they are caring for. Carers should be properly recognised, and properly supported – and our government will play its part. The Carers' Strategy will build on the progress made by the New Zealand Disability Strategy to do this.
The strategy will be developed through an innovative partnership with the Carers Alliance, a network with 39 non-government organisations under its umbrella.
The involvement of the Carers Alliance will encourage collaboration between government and non-government organisations. This partnership approach will address the difficult issues facing carers and society.
How do we juggle paid work with care? What support do we offer carers to find suitable services for themselves and the people they care for? How can we improve the health and wellbeing of carers? These questions will guide the development of a visionary strategy that will set the agenda for the next decade.
The Carers' Strategy will set the strategic direction for the development of policies and service towards carers for the next decade and will build on other important policies, strategies and action plans for those in our society who are disadvantaged, unable to fully participate in the workforce, or who do not have the same opportunities as other New Zealanders.
The Ministry of Social Development will lead this work with the Carers Alliance on behalf of the government. A draft strategy will be available for public submissions later this year. Once feedback is incorporated, a final strategy is expected to be launched in 2008, supported by a five-year Action Plan.
I urge you to take the opportunity to contribute to the Carers' Strategy, and please also make sure that the carers you know are aware of the Carers' Strategy, and know how they can have a voice in this important development for families.
The Budget
Our government increased residential care funding by $70 million between
1999/00 and 2003/04. In addition, an extra $18 million was provided to
DHBs in 2005 for residential care – comprising $12.4 million for
older New Zealanders and $6.2 million for younger people with disabilities.
Just announced in this year's Budget is a total investment of $152.8 million
for disabled New Zealanders, protected in the first year from demographic
and cost pressures by a further $36.1 million.
Budget 2007 includes the following funding for disability services:
• A total of $32 million over the next four years to stabilise home-based disabilty support services.
• A total of $44 million over the next four years for residential services for disabled people under 65 years of age
• A total of $10.5 million over four years for Autism Spectrum disorder work
• $6 million in funding over the next four years for family caregiver support
• $12 million in total over four years for Intellectual Disabilty compulsory care and rehabilitation - high and complex services
• Increased baseline funding for Environmental Support services totalling $48.3 million over the next four years ; and
• Disability Support Services will receive a total of $36.1 million for the financial year 2007/08 to cover cost and demographic pressures.
• In addition schools will also benefit from $599,000 to provide specialist support for children identified with hearing impairments by the Newborn Hearing Programme. That's in addition to $8.4 million over four years for cochlear implant services to provide treatment to more newborns with serious hearing impairment.
The Labour-led government has shown its commitment to disability issues by signing the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled Persons and through legislation such as the passing of the New Zealand Sign Language Act and the repeal of the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act - and now it has continued to make a significant monetary investment in services for disabled New Zealanders. Since the Labour-led government took office in 1999, we’ve worked to improve support for disabled people and others by fostering a more inclusive society. While there is still work to be done, I think we can be justly proud of the achievements above and of the continued commitment to being a world leader in disability issues.
Ruth Dyson
Minister for Disability Issues