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What's Australia like for people with disability

What's Australia like for people with disability

Old Jun 29th 2014, 6:53 pm
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Default What's Australia like for people with disability

Hello

I've recently started discussing the prospect of emigrating with my wife. I am 40 years old and experienced in IT, the jobs I would be interested in either appear on the SOL or the regional lists, so hopefully that could facilitate a move.

My wife has arthritis and reduced mobility as a result. She currently works full time (finance/accounting), and is capable of continuing to do so.

Apart from the obvious obstacles of her getting past the medical etc, what is Australia like in terms of attitude and acceptance of disabled people in the workplace or in general? I appreciate this may be a rather open question, but would be interested in hearing opinions or experience of others.

Thanks

Dave
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Old Jun 30th 2014, 12:03 am
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Default Re: What's Australia like for people with disability

Hi Dave- if your wife is still able to work there shouldn't be too much of a problem getting her past her medical. As for the "acceptance" of people with a disability, Aus is not at the forefront of this, though by law they are not allowed to discriminate and have to put in place things which facilitate someone to do their job. However, although you do not have to disclose your disability at interview, I have found that it isn't easy to get a job- I have MS, and to all appearances look normal, but once they know,(I feel I have to declare it,) I don't get past the interview stage, and have had to give up my teaching job as technically I am not capable in an emergency of picking up a child and running with it to safety. Now I deliver junk mail!! There are also cuts to the disability pension if you can't work, which the Govt is trying to bring in. The services are also not as good, especially for children with special needs. If you can afford to go private things are better, but horrendously expensive.

Good luck- sorry to be on a bit of a negative side.
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Old Jun 30th 2014, 1:33 am
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Default Re: What's Australia like for people with disability

Originally Posted by waveydave
Hello

I've recently started discussing the prospect of emigrating with my wife. I am 40 years old and experienced in IT, the jobs I would be interested in either appear on the SOL or the regional lists, so hopefully that could facilitate a move.

My wife has arthritis and reduced mobility as a result. She currently works full time (finance/accounting), and is capable of continuing to do so.

Apart from the obvious obstacles of her getting past the medical etc, what is Australia like in terms of attitude and acceptance of disabled people in the workplace or in general? I appreciate this may be a rather open question, but would be interested in hearing opinions or experience of others.

Thanks

Dave
Australia is just starting the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to help those in our society who need it. Not sure of all the details but it costing an astrimomical sum of money. Might be worth doing some research

Good luck
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Old Jun 30th 2014, 4:38 am
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Default Re: What's Australia like for people with disability

If it's a disability likely to cost the Australian taxpayer a lot of money in medications/therapies/scans/surgeries then it's unlikely you would get a visa - it's always a good idea to discuss your visa options with an agent who specializes in medical conditions (George Lombard and Peter a Bollard are usually the names mentioned in this regard). Otherwise, Australia has a Disability Discrimination Act but no one in their right mind would ever admit that it is a disability which stops people getting jobs but you can bet your boots that it would be a significant disadvantage!
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Old Jun 30th 2014, 7:04 am
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Default Re: What's Australia like for people with disability

Originally Posted by quoll
If it's a disability likely to cost the Australian taxpayer a lot of money in medications/therapies/scans/surgeries then it's unlikely you would get a visa - it's always a good idea to discuss your visa options with an agent who specializes in medical conditions (George Lombard and Peter a Bollard are usually the names mentioned in this regard). Otherwise, Australia has a Disability Discrimination Act but no one in their right mind would ever admit that it is a disability which stops people getting jobs but you can bet your boots that it would be a significant disadvantage!
On the bright side - wide pavements, big car spaces - often free- with disabled spots clearly marked- would have to be a plus. If someone has taken the disabled spot - there may well be one - the mileage would vary- then the nice sized spaces might work in the interim.

Taxis with chair access.

Agreeing to go to the regions might be a plus. Those country towns are fairly welcoming and have even wider pavements and car parks - things are fairly well laid out with ground access etc. You could go along way in a small town with a disability - it takes all sorts. You would not get caught in crowds.

Last edited by BadgeIsBack; Jun 30th 2014 at 7:09 am.
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Old Jun 30th 2014, 9:07 am
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Default Re: What's Australia like for people with disability

Originally Posted by Amazulu
Australia is just starting the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to help those in our society who need it. Not sure of all the details but it costing an astrimomical sum of money. Might be worth doing some research

Good luck
Unfortunately yes, in fact too expensive. The national audit committee has devised is be slowed as it's not sustainable in current form.

My OH works in disable care and advises (according to her UK colleagues) Aus is way behind UK (what a surprise).
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Old Jun 30th 2014, 4:21 pm
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Default Re: What's Australia like for people with disability

[QUOTE=waveydave;11319089]Hello

I've recently started discussing the prospect of emigrating with my wife. I am 40 years old and experienced in IT, the jobs I would be interested in either appear on the SOL or the regional lists, so hopefully that could facilitate a move.

My wife has arthritis and reduced mobility as a result. She currently works full time (finance/accounting), and is capable of continuing to do so.

Apart from the obvious obstacles of her getting past the medical etc, what is Australia like in terms of attitude and acceptance of disabled people in the workplace or in general? I appreciate this may be a rather open question, but would be interested in hearing opinions or experience of others.

Thanks



One of my (adult) children was born with a severe physical disability. We had no private health insurance at that time. She had 16 operations by the time she was 12, and was always admitted to hospital when her specialist said these surgeries were needed, without having to wait.

From 7 years old she participated in wheelchair sports and some of the records she set in interstate competitions still stand.

As she approached her teen years, the children's hospital organised group sessions to help the kids with issues relating to going through puberty. These helped her so much, as did later sessions regarding relationships, self-esteem, work skills and self-care.

We received government assistance to build a home that specifically catered for her needs. Wheelchairs, orthotics, physio were and are still provided.

She participated in a Western Australian medical research program which led to a breakthrough in preventing her condition and has been adopted worldwide with fantastic results - the number of babies born in first world countries with her condition has reduced by 85 %.

She works in open employment and is a valuable and valued staff member. Her employer had no problem modifying her workplace to ensure it was fully accessible.

There is no doubt that some employers will discriminate on the basis of disability, but not all do.

When I think of some of the countries my daughter could have been born in I thank my lucky stars that she was born in Australia. Not only for the excellence of the medical care, but also for the social acceptance of 'difference'.
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Old Jul 1st 2014, 6:14 am
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Default Re: What's Australia like for people with disability

Originally Posted by carolinephillips
Hi Dave- if your wife is still able to work there shouldn't be too much of a problem getting her past her medical. As for the "acceptance" of people with a disability, Aus is not at the forefront of this, though by law they are not allowed to discriminate and have to put in place things which facilitate someone to do their job. However, although you do not have to disclose your disability at interview, I have found that it isn't easy to get a job- I have MS, and to all appearances look normal, but once they know,(I feel I have to declare it,) I don't get past the interview stage, and have had to give up my teaching job as technically I am not capable in an emergency of picking up a child and running with it to safety. Now I deliver junk mail!! There are also cuts to the disability pension if you can't work, which the Govt is trying to bring in. The services are also not as good, especially for children with special needs. If you can afford to go private things are better, but horrendously expensive.

Good luck- sorry to be on a bit of a negative side.
not negative caroline, just good info.

Would add, prescriptions, specialists, tests, doctors visits really add up. I have a painkiller that is $29 for 30, sounds OK ? at 2 per day thats $728 a year!! just for that medication.
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Old Jul 1st 2014, 7:17 am
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Default Re: What's Australia like for people with disability

Out of interest if you go over a certain amount for all your medical costs, is there a ceiling?
Interested as my daughter has fairly high medical expenses, and I thought I had heard some where that there was a ceiling? and also can you claim some tax back?
Thanks
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Old Jul 1st 2014, 8:07 am
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Default Re: What's Australia like for people with disability

Originally Posted by EvannTel
Unfortunately yes, in fact too expensive. The national audit committee has devised is be slowed as it's not sustainable in current form.

My OH works in disable care and advises (according to her UK colleagues) Aus is way behind UK (what a surprise).
That wouldn't surprise me about the cost - Labor were out of control when it came to spending money that they never had

It is an area that we should be spending on though - cut foreign aid, civil service jobs and money for asylum seekers to pay for it

Disabilty services may not be as good as the UK (I have no idea either way) but overall standard of public health care is very smilar - ahead in some areas, behind in others

Last edited by Amazulu; Jul 1st 2014 at 8:10 am.
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Old Jul 1st 2014, 9:02 am
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Default Re: What's Australia like for people with disability

Originally Posted by tomar
Out of interest if you go over a certain amount for all your medical costs, is there a ceiling?
Interested as my daughter has fairly high medical expenses, and I thought I had heard some where that there was a ceiling? and also can you claim some tax back?
Thanks

there is a medicare safety net. eg, if you go over about $1284 in gap fees, you may get a higher medicare rebate, but that rebate is only a % of the schedule fee. the schedule fee is often nowhere near what the doctor or service charges. ie specialist, usually in the 300 range but the schedule fee is only 80 ish.

You used to be able to claim 20% of you out of pocket medical expenses after about the first 2000 on tax. but that is also being phased out.

there is also a prescription safety net, despite my incredibly high prescription costs this year, and from reading it, i felt sure i qualified, but the medicare officer said I did not qualify, it must again only be some % or portion of a certain part of it.

my health fund will only contribute to prescriptions if they are over $36 each , same with previous fund.

unless you have a health care card, you pay for kids scripts too.
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Old Jul 1st 2014, 12:23 pm
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Default Re: What's Australia like for people with disability

Originally Posted by EvannTel
Unfortunately yes, in fact too expensive. The national audit committee has devised is be slowed as it's not sustainable in current form.

My OH works in disable care and advises (according to her UK colleagues) Aus is way behind UK (what a surprise).
EvannTel, thanks for the message. Just wanted to say that yes, I'm aware that not everyone has a 'positive experience' and truth be told, there's very little that's positive about having a disability - I'm sure anyone with one would rather not have it. I have rheumatoid arthritis and it's a right pain in the arse and other assorted bits

I told my daughter's story (which I rarely do) in an attempt to reassure the OP that they are moving to a country which is at least comparable with other first world countries in terms of medical care and social attitudes toward people with a disbility.

Caroline, what a wicked waste of your skills and experience, I'm really sorry (and more than a bit horrified) that alternate employment wasn't found/offered to you :-(
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Old Jul 1st 2014, 1:09 pm
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Default Re: What's Australia like for people with disability

Originally Posted by spouse of scouse
One of my (adult) children was born with a severe physical disability. We had no private health insurance at that time. She had 16 operations by the time she was 12, and was always admitted to hospital when her specialist said these surgeries were needed, without having to wait.

From 7 years old she participated in wheelchair sports and some of the records she set in interstate competitions still stand.

As she approached her teen years, the children's hospital organised group sessions to help the kids with issues relating to going through puberty. These helped her so much, as did later sessions regarding relationships, self-esteem, work skills and self-care.

We received government assistance to build a home that specifically catered for her needs. Wheelchairs, orthotics, physio were and are still provided.

She participated in a Western Australian medical research program which led to a breakthrough in preventing her condition and has been adopted worldwide with fantastic results - the number of babies born in first world countries with her condition has reduced by 85 %.

She works in open employment and is a valuable and valued staff member. Her employer had no problem modifying her workplace to ensure it was fully accessible.

There is no doubt that some employers will discriminate on the basis of disability, but not all do.

When I think of some of the countries my daughter could have been born in I thank my lucky stars that she was born in Australia. Not only for the excellence of the medical care, but also for the social acceptance of 'difference'.
Just wanted to say what a lovely post this is. Obviously not that your daughter has disabilities and has had so many challenges in life, but your attitude and how much she has achieved really warms my heart. My brother was disabled, physically, however never let anything get in the way of life, worked full time, drove, went travelling by himself, climbed up the top of tall ships etc.. he was truly amazing. Never asked anything of anyone and did so much we almost forgot he was disabled until someone either asked me or said something. Copped a huge amount of abuse, mainly at school which still upsets me to this day, but a shining example of how he just got on with his life. I'm touched about how much your daughter has done and you must be hugely proud of her x
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Old Jul 1st 2014, 1:18 pm
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Default Re: What's Australia like for people with disability

Originally Posted by Still Game
Just wanted to say what a lovely post this is. Obviously not that your daughter has disabilities and has had so many challenges in life, but your attitude and how much she has achieved really warms my heart. My brother was disabled, physically, however never let anything get in the way of life, worked full time, drove, went travelling by himself, climbed up the top of tall ships etc.. he was truly amazing. Never asked anything of anyone and did so much we almost forgot he was disabled until someone either asked me or said something. Copped a huge amount of abuse, mainly at school which still upsets me to this day, but a shining example of how he just got on with his life. I'm touched about how much your daughter has done and you must be hugely proud of her x


Thank you, that was so lovely to read.

Your brother achieved so much, you and your family must also be very proud. What a wonderful person he sounds. So sorry to hear about the bullying, kids can be such cruel little shits.
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