DISABILITY SERVICES

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (15:37): I seek leave to make an explanation before asking the minister representing the Minister for Disabilities questions about disability services in South Australia's Indigenous communities.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: As most of the members here are hopefully aware, this week is NAIDOC Week, which is an opportunity for all of us to celebrate the richness of Indigenous culture, history and achievements across Australia. Unfortunately, NAIDOC Week can sometimes also serve as a sad reminder of things which could be done better in the area of Indigenous service delivery.

I am acutely aware that, while disability services are hard to access in metropolitan areas, the problems are doubled for people living in regional and rural areas who are attempting to access things like personal care or respite. It is my suspicion that such difficulties are often compounded for those living in Indigenous communities but, unfortunately, there is not much localised data available on this issue.

The wonderful organisation, Motivation Australia, has recently started nationwide research into what kind of access to services is offered to Indigenous Australians with a disability, and the initial results are very disheartening. Given the appalling lack of South Australia-specific public information on this topic, my questions to the minister are:

1. What proportion of cases recorded on the unmet needs list originates from Indigenous communities?

2. What measures are in place to make the offer and engagement of disability services culturally appropriate for Indigenous Australians?

3. What processes are used to make sure that equipment provided through Community and Home Support SA is appropriate for the terrain and environmental conditions of outback Australia?

4. Do the policies of this government recognise the high worth of in-community carers of Indigenous Australians?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises, Minister for Gambling) (15:39): I thank the honourable member for her important questions, and I will refer those to the Minister for Families and Communities in another place and bring back a response.