PM Julia Gillard unveils scheme for indigenous disability care

JULIA Gillard has added a new closing the gap target - aimed at increasing access to services for indigenous people with a disability.

JULIA Gillard has added a new closing the gap target - aimed at increasing access to services for indigenous people with a disability.

In a statement the Prime Minister said this would strengthen efforts to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage by ensuring the benefits of DisabilityCare Australia were realised for Indigenous people.

Minister for Indigenous Affairs Jenny Macklin today announced $900,000 over three years for the First People's Disability Network Australia to provide services to assist indigenous Australians to understand and access support from DisabilityCare Australia.

"The Gillard government is committed to closing the gap for Indigenous Australians with disability," the statement said.

"We must ensure that DisabilityCare Australia increases support and services for indigenous people with disability and a target will drive these efforts.

"We know the prevalence of severe or profound disability among Indigenous people is around twice the rate for non-Indigenous Australians.

"Unfortunately, many Indigenous people are reluctant to identify themselves as a person with disability and often do not seek help with disability services."

A new target would concentrate efforts on closing the gap for Indigenous Australians with disability and ensure they are not left behind in the implementation of DisabilityCare Australia, the government said.

The target will be developed through a working group of key indigenous and disability stakeholders, chaired by Damian Griffis, Executive Officer of First Peoples Disability Network, in parallel with discussions with state and territory governments.

The working group will be asked to report to government on options for a possible target that could be agreed by the Council of Australian Governments.

An interim report is to be provided by mid July 2013.

DisabilityCare Australia wants to employ indigenous planners and local area coordinators where ever possible, and is also engaging at a local level with indigenous organisations.