— We are forwarding the below email on behalf of a GetUp member who wished to make a special appeal on this urgent campaign. We have not shared your personal details. —

Dear NEVILLE, 

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Heike, and I’m a fellow GetUp member living in NSW. I have a six year old, Billie, who has cerebral palsy and a cheeky smile. 

Like many Australians, I had always assumed that if a child is born with a disability or acquires one later in life, that some system, somewhere, will take care of them. How wrong I was. My family has accumulated $300,000 in debts buying equipment like manual and electric wheelchairs (more than $30,000), a walking frame ($550) and weekly speech therapy sessions ($75 a session). These costs are not a choice for us, because we love our child and want her to live up to her full potential. In fact, we see them as investments rather than costs.

But right now there’s a conversation happening between politicians that could save families like mine from financial ruin. NSW and other states are in negotiations with the Federal Government to establish the first step towards a National Disability Insurance Scheme.  

This would be life-changing for thousands of families who’ve fallen through the cracks. Unfortunately, talks are breaking down over costs squabbling, and could collapse completely. That’s why I believe our Premier urgently needs to hear from us so he knows what’s at stake. Can you join me in writing to him today? Please click here to learn more and send a quick message now:

http://www.getup.org.au/NSW-NDIS

Disability support in Australia is currently described as a lottery.  In some states there’s insurance protection — so that if you acquire a disability through a car accident for instance, you get help to cover the ongoing costs of your care. In others, if you’re born with a disability or acquire one through injury, you receive absolutely no support whatsoever – no matter how  much your costs skyrocket.  

A National Disability Insurance plan is a reform on the scale of Medicare and compulsory superannuation: it would prevent countless people with disabilities, families and carers from becoming impoverished and exhausted. It would also introduce common sense, low-cost reforms that would remove barriers to employment for many more people who want to contribute later on as adults, saving taxpayers money over the long term.    

In many ways, my child is not all that different from yours, or those of your friends. She loves pretend play, arts & crafts, and chocolate. Barry O’ Farrell, our local member, has met Billie. When I hear that NSW gave $100 million to the Sydney Cricket Ground, but refuses to find $70 million to help people with disabilities and their families, I want to ask him to look her in the eye and explain why her future counts for so little. 

Will you write a message to Premier O’Farrell  now, while there’s still time to make a difference? It may just be most important thing you do this year. 

http://www.getup.org.au/NSW-NDIS

Thank you so much for taking the time to help my family, 
Heike Fabig, NSW 

PS – Many inspiring people have been working on the NDIS for years. Learn more about the campaign for an NDIS by visiting and signing up as a supporter at: http://everyaustraliancounts.com.au/

GetUp is an independent, not-for-profit community campaigning group. We use new technology to empower Australians to have their say on important national issues. We receive no political party or government funding, and every campaign we run is entirely supported by voluntary donations. If you’d like to contribute to help fund GetUp’s work, please donate now! If you have trouble with any links in this email, please go directly to www.getup.org.au. To unsubscribe from GetUp, please click here. Authorised by Simon Sheikh, Level 2, 104 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010.