Standards for Disability Services in Victoria

People who use disability services have the right to receive high quality services that meet their needs and expectations. The Standards under the Disability Act 2006 set out the expectations of better practice for the delivery of services and supports to people with a disability.

The Standards for Disability Services in Victoria now include both Outcome Standards and Industry Standards.

Information on this page

• Outcome Standards for Disability Services
• Industry Standards for Disability Services
• Performance measures of the Standards

Outcome Standards for Disability Services

The Outcome Standards describe what is important for people with a disability as citizens of Victoria. These Standards prompt us to consider the influence and impact our service has on political, cultural, health and wellbeing, economic and social outcomes for people with a disability.

• Individuality - each individual has goals, wants, aspirations and support needs, and makes decisions and choices about their life
• Capacity - each individual's abilities and potential are identified and encouraged
• Participation - each individual is able to be part of his or her community
• Citizenship - each individual has rights and responsibilities as a member of the community
• Leadership - each individual  has the opportunity to inform the way that supports are provided

Industry Standards for Disability Services

The Quality Framework maintains the nine Industry Standards that were first introduced in 1997.

The Industry Standards describe the systems and processes that must be in place in order to support people to achieve outcomes and safeguard the rights of people with a disability, their family members and carers.

Fair and equitable practices that are consistent with funding obligations, applicable legislation and purpose of the service are applied when managing and allocating resources.

• Service access - fair and equitable practices that are consistent with funding obligations, applicable legislation and purpose of the service are applied when managing and allocating resources
• Individual needs - planning and support is tailored, flexible, responsive and appropriate to the individual
• Decision making and choice - support options are planned, developed, implemented and reviewed in a manner that is responsive to the decisions, choices and aspirations of individuals
• Privacy, dignity and confidentiality - are respected and maintained
• Participation and integration - support options are planned, developed, implemented and reviewed in a manner that builds opportunities for individuals to participate in the life of the community
• Valued status - support options are planned, developed, implemented and reviewed in a manner that recognises the skills, abilities and potential of individuals, and enables the achievement of valued roles in the community
• Complaints and disputes - are addressed promptly, fairly and respectfully without compromising services to the individual
• Service management - management and governance practice is sound, accountable and consistent with current disability policy and practice
• Freedom from abuse and neglect - supports are provided in safe and healthy environments that support individuals to exercise their legal and human rights.

Download the Standards for Disability Services in Victoria (2007):

• Standards for Disability Services in Victoria (2007) (PDF 295 KB)
• Plain Text version of the Standards (Word 62KB)

Download the information sheet for service providers about Standards and monitoring performance:

• Information sheet for Service Providers: Standards and monitoring performance (PDF 183KB)
• Information sheet for Service Providers: Standards and monitoring performance (Word 214KB)

Download the information sheet about Standards and monitoring performance:

• Information sheet: Standards and monitoring performance (PDF 207KB)
• Information sheet: Standards and monitoring performance (Word 207KB)

Learn more - Standards for Disability Services in Victoria

• Easy read format is available in Book 2 - The Disability Standards, see Alternative format materials
• Illustrations depicting what the Standards mean in practice are available to download, see Alternative format materials.

Performance measures of the Standards

Performance measures for the Standards were published in the Victoria Government Gazette on 19 February 2009, as required by section 97 of the Disability Act 2006.

The performance measures are:

• Performance Measure 1: Each disability service provider has established organisational systems, processes and practices that promote service provision consistent with the Standards for Disability Services in Victoria.
• Performance Measure 2: Each disability service provider supports each individual to achieve their personal outcomes consistent with the Standards for Disability Services in Victoria.

Each performance measure is applicable to all categories of disability service providers and all categories of disability services.

The role of the performance measures in quality measurement and continuous improvement is to define the parameters for compliance with the Standards. The Disability Act 2006 allows monitoring the ‘… compliance of a disability service provider with the relevant performance measures in respect of the Standards’.

Consistency with the Standards is determined to be when the requirements of each Standard are met, and the outcome is shown to be effective.