INFORMATION GUIDE TO EVERY FAMILY WITH A CHILD WITH A DISABILITY

The Idea: Centrelink to refer each new family with a child with a disability who registers for Carers Allowance to ACDNSW for access to an Information Guide.

Backgrd: The Association for Children with a Disability NSW ("ACDNSW") has developed a comprehensive information guide to support families caring for a child with a disability. It is available for free on-line or at a nominal cost in hard copy. It is unique in NSW and covers a range of issues including financial, legal, medical, therapies, respite and schooling. ACDNSW would like to see it made available to all families as soon as they become aware that their child has a disability.

Centrelink has a record of children with a disability in NSW by virtue of the Carers Allowance payment.

Outcome: Implementing this idea would be low cost to Centrelink, it would save Federal and State funding currently expended on case workers, and it would empower families.