Parents of children benefiting from early childhood intervention programs have called on the ACT government to guarantee the future of services when private providers take over under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
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Disability Minister Joy Burch last month announced a phased withdrawal of all government services in accommodation support, therapy services and early childhood intervention programs from the end of this year.
Early intervention programs currently delivered by the Education Directorate for pre-preschool children will be replaced by private services while Therapy ACT services will continue in their current model.
About 300 children with a range of disabilities will see a change to their playgroups and units.
Canberra mother Tracey Trewhella said the future was uncertain for her three-year-old daughter Hailey who attends an early intervention playgroup.
Hailey was 12-months-old when she was diagnosed with global development delay and attends an early intervention group twice weekly.
“The program is being closed and nothing is currently available in the ACT non-government sector that we can attend instead of the playgroup or unit,” Ms Trewhella said.
“We have not been given a list of any businesses or organisations who can provide same service or program. We need a structured and facilitated group program, not just one-on-one services."
Ms Trewhella said the government programs should not be withdrawn until private providers are established. She called for families to receive targeted information and said she was not convinced Therapy ACT services would remain.
“If they are allowing businesses to come, why can’t we wait until they are here and operating before close services the children now receive and rely on?
“We are happy to go privately and very happy with the NDIS, but why pull out something when there is nothing else on offer yet?”
Opposition Disability spokesman Andrew Wall will hold a meeting for families affected by the changes on May 26, and Ms Burch encouraged parents and carers of children with autism or Aspergers to attend a June 2 forum with representatives of Disability ACT and the National Disability Insurance Agency.
Mr Wall has criticised the roll-out process and suggested the ACT may not be ready for the NDIS from July 1.
Ms Burch said many private providers were already present in the ACT or had expressed interest in establishing here. She said government consultation was continuing.
“We are confident that enough private and community sector providers will enter the market to provide all the services, and that the time frame is achievable,” she said.
“We are also exploring the potential for these services to be located in our schools, as current services are, to maintain continuity for children and families.”
Ms Burch said the transition schedule could not yet be released pending approval from Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
She said Education and Training Directorate staff would not lose their jobs but conceded they would be redeployed to other roles.
“Some may choose to take up jobs with new service providers."
“No child will be left behind," Ms Burch said.
