CSTDA

$900 million boost for CSTDA

Disability Ministers met on the 30 May 2008 to discuss the Commonwealth State Territory Disability Agreement (CSTDA) and delivered a substantial boost in funding.

On top of the Federal Government's $1 billion already committed in the Federal Budget as part of their pre-election commitments, state and territory governments agreed to deliver $900 million. Across Australia, the $1.9 billion will provide:

•  2,300 in-home support places

•  2,300 supported accommodation places

•  9.900 individual support packages

•  10,000 respite packages

At the 30 May meeting, Disability Ministers also agreed to improvements in advocacy, measurement of unmet need, policy development, quality assurance and research. They also agreed to explore national consistency regarding the provision of aids and equipment.

Disability Ministers will continue to work together to develop the new CSTDA which will come into effect on the 1 January 2009.

For more information about the 30 May 2008 Disability Ministers meeting you can read the Disability Ministers' Conference Communiqué

In addition to directly lobbying politicians (both federal and state/territory) about the CSTDA, AAFCD is also involved in the National CSTDA Community Alliance. Keep an eye on this page for news of (hopefully positive) future developments.

If you have any questions about AAFCD's lobbying work around the CSTDA contact Lauren Matthews, Co-ordinator Policy Action & Research laurenm@aafcd.org.au or on 1800 222 660.

Some historical background to our approach the CSTDA

The Commonwealth State Territory Disability Agreement (CSTDA) is an extremely important agreement. It determines, amongst other things, how much federal government funding will be provided to the states and territories to assist families of children with a disability and young adults with certain types of services (including accommodation support).

Historically, the CSTDA has involved an agreement for a 5 year period. The current 5 year CSTDA was due to expire on 30 June 2007. When the previous federal government and the states and territories could not come to agreement about a new CSTDA prior to 30 June 2007, the agreement was rolled-over (ie. continued at existing levels and funding) for six months to 31 December 2007. The CSTDA has been subsequently rolled over again until 31 December 2008 in line with the COAG changes to special purpose payments to the States and Territories.

The Disability and carers election policy that the Rudd Government took to the 2007 election details their commitment to the renegotiation of the CSTDA.

While both levels of government may cite a commitment to 'getting the details 100% right' as a justification for the delay, AAFCD remains extremely concerned with the slow pace of negotiations. Given the extent of known need amongst children and adults with a disability and their families across all areas of Australia , the delay in deployment of new CSTDA funding is a major concern.

Increased federal government funding for the CSTDA was a key priority in our 2007 pre-election document, Disability Futures, and again in our 2008 budget submission Disability and Economic Responsibility.

Earlier in May 2007, we wrote a letter to the then Prime Minister and Treasurer outlining our views about various aspects of the CSTDA negotiations (see copy below) and following developments with the then government's announcement on 28 June 2007 of a new $1.8 billion Disability Assistance Package, we wrote again to the Prime Minister and state and territory governments regarding the CSTDA on 20 July 2007 (see copy below).

AAFCD CSTDA Letter to PM and Treasurer 23 May 2007 (PDF 55 kb)

AAFCD CSTDA Letter to PM and Treasurer, Premiers and Chief Ministers 20 July 2007 (PDF 54 kb)

To view Adobe PDF files you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader, which you can download for free via the following link.

A text only version of the letter is available on request, phone 1800 222 660 (freecall from a land-line anywhere in Australia) or send details of your request by post to AAFCD, Suite 2, 98 Morang Road, Hawthorn VIC 3122 or by email mail@aafcd.org.au.

Background information and a fact sheet about the CSTDA is available from the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website by entering CSTDA into the search field.