New Approach
At present, the disability service system focuses mainly on specific programs, such as personal care, day programs and accommodation. Many of the system?s resources are also directed towards responding to crises in people's lives.
The Victorian Government wants disability supports to focus on supporting people with a disability in flexible ways, based on their individual needs, so that each person can live the lifestyle that they want to lead.
The Government recognises that many support providers are already providing supports to people with a disability in innovative ways that maximise people's opportunities to participate in the community.
The Government will be looking at ways to acknowledge these innovations and to share them with others, so that everyone can benefit from the changes that are taking place.
Some of the changes that are taking place
2002 - 2012
- People living in the community - People being included and participating in the community
- Creating lives of dependence - Enabling lives of connectedness with the communities in which people live
- People as recipients of services - People as partners in developing supports
- Centralised control of decision-making - More personal control of decision-making
- Individuals allocated to a service provider - Individuals having choices about support providers
- Focus on health and community services - Focus on the full range of services which support people's quality of life
- Focus on programs - Focus on people as individuals
- Making placements in programs - Enabling people to have lifestyle choices
- Standard services and programs - More flexible and tailored supports
- Reactive, crisis-driven services - More proactive planning and support
- Government Departments and - Active partnerships and more integrated, programs working in isolation whole-of-government approaches
- Government as regulator - Government as leader and demonstrator