A BACKLASH is brewing in Brimbank over fee hikes for thousands of people living in supported disability care.
Michael Fitton, who lives in Deer Park, was among about 2500 Victorians who received letters from the Department of Human Services in May, saying board and lodging fees would increase by 50 per cent – consuming 75 per cent of the disability support pension and the entire rental assistance.
Fitton’s mother Roslyn fears her active son, who has cerebral palsy and an intellectual disability, won’t be able to enjoy life like he used to.
“It’s our fault I guess – we let him do a lot of the things he enjoys, whether it’s lawn bowling or horse riding,” she said. “I’m really struggling to handle it. The past few weeks have been hard. I’ve been stressed and sick myself; it gets to you.”
Ms Fitton said the change would take its toll on many parents. “We are not always going to be here, we’re not always going to be able to pay for the things he enjoys. He can’t speak for himself. He’s on a supplementary diet, which costs $1000 a year. If he doesn’t have the right diet he’ll fade away to a shadow.’’
The Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability (VALID) has launched a petition calling for a reversal of the increases, saying they would “create severe financial hardship” by reducing leftover income to less than $5000 a year.
Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Andrew Elsbury said plunging disabled people into poverty was not the intention. “Whenever there’s a change in any fee structure people can get a bit jittery, but what we’re trying to do is ensure someone who’s receiving care in Deer Park is receiving the same level as someone in Hawthorn or Craigieburn.”
He said DHS staff would speak to families to make sure they received the care they needed “without inflicting undue hardship”.
Kororoit Labor MP Marlene Kairouz said the fee increase would make supported accommodation unaffordable for local residents.
“[Denis] Napthine has outlined an expansion to Victoria’s individual support packages, a program that is nationally recognised, but instead of funding it properly he is slugging people already engaged in supported accommodation,’’ she said.
“The $44 million fee increase will force people living with a disability to spend the vast majority of their disability support pension on maintaining their DHS accommodation, leaving next to nothing for essentials like toiletries and clothing.”
