Commonwealth Government COVID-19 Response Inquiry submission
This submission was made to the Commonwealth Government COVID-19 response inquiry.
The Independent Advisory Council (IAC) wrote this paper. When we say ‘we’ we mean the IAC.
What we said
The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability (Royal Commission) talked to people about COVID-19 and gave advice on support and getting vaccines.
We agree with what the Royal Commission said about how people with disability should get help during COVID-19.
NDIS participants should be a priority group. There should be ways to contact and support them.
The disability workforce is essential. It should be a priority for them to have the right equipment to protect them and people they support when there is COVID-19.
There is still COVID-19 in the community. People with disability need support. They feel worried.
In a crisis, agencies need to be able to focus on what they can do to help the community.
The NDIA should know about how to help people with disability. They should use the Local Area Coordination network to support people.
Good ways of doing things in a state needed to be shared in the national meetings.
The health system needs to understand people with disability. There should be plans that include supporting people with disabilities in a crisis.
Children and families need to co-design information that is for them about COVID-19.
Information needs to be accessible for people who use different languages including support workers.
Local groups did lots of work to support people in COVID-19. They should be funded to help people and share information in a crisis.
Support for decision making should increase when there is a crisis.
Having flexible NDIS plans needs to continue. Funding should be able to be used to respond to crisis situations.
Doing things remotely like work and talking to doctors by phone should continue.
The impact of COVID-19 on people with disability long-term should be checked.