Terms of Engagements
The first game of the
season kick off tonight, But I already feel like I played a full season and it
round one of the finals. Everything
hinges on tonight’s game, its do or die. However as I cask an eye around the
locker room, I see the faces of my team mates are glum. On some there’s a look of despair and other
are clouded in a seed of doubt. As team captain it my job to lead the team on
to the field tonight with the belief they can win the grand finial at the end
of season. I take a deep breath, as I
begin my first team speech of the season. Welcome to the 2013 season team NDIS
. . .
New Game Home
In was only late last year we head rounds of applause as Julia
Gildard introduce the National Disability Insurance Scheme into Federal Federal Parliament . We experienced a touch down and our followers in a seed of red march on
Parliament House itself, you be forgiven for thinking we’d won the grand
final. Members of team NDIS momentarily forgot
we had only won the preseason comp. The real competition kick off was still three
months away and team Federal Election is
about to march on the field as a major contender in the 2013 season.
| Umpire introduces new rules |
Yes a date for a trail of the NDIS had be set on five major
playing fields across Australia, but the new season sees a new major partner enter the political
stadium for the first time and suddenly the rules of engagement are under a cloud.
In addition to this several key players are suspected as drug treats to the
respect of the game and at the eleventh hours a major teams look set to be
booted out of the competition before tonight’s kick off.
Meet the players
Its there any wonder why I see a look of despair on the
faces of my team mates. The tone of emotions changed, considerable during the preseason.
The celebration of our preseason victory have sowed. Doubt and sarcasm are growing strong among the team, the smelt
the sniff of victory too many times before to believe a revolution can take
place.
They suspect the promises of changes to the game in 2018
will only mean minor venue changes rather than a rewriting the rules of the
game as being promise by the Australian Labor Goverment. No one is sure, including me
they have another season under the current game rules left in them and the
light at the end of the turn grows dim.
What the current disability sector needs is tearing down to
it grassroots, a total administration restructure along with new rules of engagement
to see real improvement in the lives of
people with disabilities and the families across this nation. However the present state play seems to cast
a shadow of doubt over who will even be eligible to remain part of team NDIS come mid-season. With this seed of uncertainly clouding the team’s season, I
shouldn’t be surprise at the atmosphere preceding tonight’s game.
Half my team have lost sight of the revolution occurring behind
the goal posts, to them its the same old game under a different competition
banner. Bitter chocolate dressed up as
sugar coated candy dancing on the sidelines just out of sight of the goals
posts and the media’s refusal to highlight major changes in the game that I
personal blame.
The highlights on the induction of the new rules for the
current seasons have not been aired on commercial TV and nor advertising of new
opportunities to public debate over the proposed legislation introduction. The ink will be dry before the genera public realises
it had been invited to make submission to the newest revolution to the
disability sector since its introduction in the 1970’s.
Last week marked the 20th anniversary of the Disability Discrimination Act in Australia, however
little has changed for many young Australians with a disability whose
only accommodation choice are in aged care faculties and insurance of their
right of entitlements as previous players have been swept away. For me too many current players only have
their eye on the ball their playing with, not their fellow competitors the talk
of an even playing field does not extend past the 2013 season. Those proceeding
them and future players and even those playing in other codes of the game are
given no thought. The ideals of being
part of a team on extend to the photograph placed before their eyes.
Ending isolation
Players still being placed in institutional care and respite
day care centres, adult with a disability partaking in childcare like
activities are not on their game agenda.
Their agenda may be getting out of their own homes, it’s a fair and justifiable
fight, but a truly national games needs to give equal playing time and
resources to each member on the field not just those who have some restricted access
to the community arena already. If this
is people’s vision for the NDIS, then pack you bags on leave the team players
to help all members be rewarded with a medal at the end of the season. For its only if we enter tonight’s games
playing for every other team member do with have hope of a grand finial victory
in 2013.
| Team Ipswich |
So before you follow me onto the ground tonight, I am asking
for 100% commitment to each member of our team, regardless on the personal circumstances. If you’re not prepared for the rules changes
before us then as they say on your bike.
Debbie Chilton
Post Note You can help shape our game
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