Learning For Life welcomed Dr Monique Ryan MP, Member for Kooyong, to the Centre on Wednesday 22 February, 2023. Dr Ryan was invited to meet with members of the board, staff and families to gain further insight and feedback into the disability landscape, as well as benefits and challenges of the NDIS on people living with disability and their families and support network.
Dr Ryan heard from our Clinical Director, Emma Miller and Head of Allied Health, Sarah Wood, on the work of our Early Intensive Behavioural Intervention Program, Inclusion Works Schools Consultancy Program and Secret Agency Society Social Skills Program, and how these programs help to build an inclusive and accessible environment for autistic and other neurodivergent children.
Emma also highlighted the continual need for additional funding and support: “There is no doubt that the NDIS has made a positive impact on our community. It has opened access to families that would not otherwise be able to access it. However, there is still a need for additional financial support so that we can help families navigate the NDIS landscape without hindering the high-quality support they receive from our programs.”
It was reassuring to hear the positive impact that Learning for Life has had on the lives of our families as they shared their stories with Dr Ryan, but it was also important to highlight the challenges they face: including barriers to inclusion in mainstream schools and allied services such as Out of School Hours Care, as well as increasing funding shortages.
“Learning for Life goes beyond the support of our children and is helping families to navigate the NDIS and seek the necessary support for their child, beyond what funding allows,” said Learning for Life parent, Yvette.
“I shouldn’t have to be fighting for inclusion for my child in school-related programs, but it makes the process easier when I have Learning for Life working with me,” said a L4Life parent.
Dr Ryan has a keen understanding of the challenges participants, families and providers face under the NDIS and has developed a Special Advisory Committee on the NDIS, of whom the Learning for Life General Manager – Operations, Victoria Crane, and Head of Allied Health, Sarah Wood are a part. Dr Ryan noted that these challenges are experienced across the community, but also noted that “the work undertaken by Learning for Life was obviously working really well”, after listening to the feedback from our parents.
Learning for Life CEO, Pam Roy, said that having Dr Ryan take the time from her busy schedule to listen to the Learning for Life Village, was appreciated and an important way to share our experiences to allow our voice to be heard in parliament.
“We thank Dr Ryan for coming on site and taking the time to listen to our Village so that we can continue to work to build and improve an NDIS that works for people living with disability as well as their supporters and network,” says Pam.
Thank you to our families and staff for welcoming our visitors and for sharing their stories.
