Next steps
A large proportion of disability supports continue to be provided on a program basis, with funding attached to organisations for programs, rather than people, for their supports.
The next phase of gradual change will consider how to further individualise disability supports while maintaining a strong and sustainable service provider sector. There will be a specific focus on:
- Strengthening individualised planning
- Developing funding administration arrangements for Individual Support Packages
- Enhancing individualised approaches
1. Strengthening individualised planning
Strengthened individualised planning will assist people with a disability to identify their goals and aspirations and to consider a blend of informal, community based and disability funded supports to help meet their needs.
Strengthened planning will also provide a more coordinated approach to planning where people are receiving a number of disability and other community supports.
2. Developing funding administration arrangements for Individual Support Packages
Arrangements to administering the funding for Individual Support Packages are being developed.
In the future, this will mean that people receiving an Individual Support Package will have greater flexibility to purchase and pay for the supports and services they need.
The two arrangements that will be made available are the use of a financial intermediary (an organisation that holds the Individual Support Package funds that makes payments at the direction of the person with a disability) or a disability service provider.
A combination of these two arrangements will also be available.
Direct payments
In addition, a trial of direct payments is underway. With direct payments, the person with a disability or a support person is the funds administrator.
The aim of the trial is to further develop direct payments as an option for people with disabilities in readiness for implementation across Victoria in late 2009.
More information is available from the Direct Payments page.
For further information about funding administration in relation to Individual Support Packages, please contact the Disability Intake and Response Team.
3. Enhancing individualised approaches
The Changing Days and Community Facility Redevelopment initiatives provide an example of how program-based supports are being enhanced to provide an individual approach.
The Review of Flexible Support Packages and Outreach Support will inform future work to strengthen an individualised approach in these services.