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Since the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme in 2012, it has been widely investigated in state and federal government inquiries that the experience for those living with a disability and their families has been a burdensome process.

A reality for many families and carers alike is the experience of compassion fatigue or empathy burnout, which is recognised as a symptom of traumatic stress.

Anna-Lee Hamilton is the chief operations officer at Sydney Health and Care Services (SHCS) and shared her lived experience with The Bugle, a local newspaper for the NSW South Coast.

“When you look at compassion fatigue and empathy burnout, it’s because you genuinely want to help them,” Hamilton said.

“It is more that the reality is we’re all trying to make it through and its exhausting for everyone, for those that have a disability as well.

“They [those with a disability] are finding it even more emotional because they feel like a burden. They feel like they’re putting the pressure on their family, and they don’t want to feel that way.”

Hamilton has progressed from working as a disability support worker to an executive role and her journey has provided her with a unique perspective.

“I also felt in my time, and it wasn’t with the company that I am with now, but there was a lack of support, lack of training, lack of insight on what the supports entailed at that time,” Hamilton said.

“Back then, NDIS was still finding its way.

“I think NDIS from start to finish [now] has been very complex.” 

When speaking to abilityNEWS Hamilton particularly emphasised this last point, stressing the complexity both workers and individual participants faced as they attempted to navigate their way through the system.

courtesy The Bugle

The cost of the weekend’s onslaught on NDIS rorting by the popular press was apparent in policy circles yesterday. Spending approvals just don’t survive such coordinated attacks. Politicians are pushed to respond: even if they withstand the immediate pressure to take action, goodwill towards the scheme is slowly eroding.

This will strengthen the hand of those within government who want to see the NDIS cutailed to ensure it stops placing further pressure on the budget.

Nic Stuart, editor