The Disability Information and Resource Centre

Media statement 29/10/09

SA goes part way with self-management trial for people with disability

50 people with disability and their families in South Australia will have the opportunity to directly manage the funding they get for disability services, but the state government and service providers will still be in control.

This initiative will give a small group of people their current funding package to spend on the same things they already have. People with disability want to use their funding to meet their needs in ways that give them the same opportunities to be included as everyone else. Sometimes this means being creative and flexible, like going to a gym instead of the physiotherapist, or a singing lesson instead of breathing exercises, or going on a holiday with support instead of a respite facility.

Being in control means having the opportunity to make those decisions about what is the best way to meet your needs.

Although it is a step in the right direction, the new initiative announced yesterday by the South Australian government is a trial with severe limitations that only addresses one option of self-directed funding. In Control Australia is disappointed that South Australia has not taken the opportunity to change its funding system to one where there are multiple options for management of funding and support for many different people with disabilities to be in control of their lives.

Both Victoria and Western Australia have implemented successful changes to their systems which include people directly receiving the funds as one option. They also include options for shared management of services with organisations, and using a financial intermediary or a broker to support the person and family in their management of funds.

In Control Australia urges the South Australian government to modify and extend its trial to be a true model of self-directed funding for people with disability.

For more information on self-directed funding see the principles and frequently asked questions on the In Control Australia website www.in-control.org.au .

Media enquiries can be directed to Samantha Jenkinson on 0412 887 674.

Self-managed funding, also known as individualised funding, is an approach used to enable people with disabilities to have control and choice about the supports they receive.  Self-managed funding gives a person with a disability control of the funding that has been allocated for their support needs.  It enables the individual to choose how, where and when they receive the support they need.

Self-managed funding can range from a direct payment to a person with a disability to enable them to arrange and purchase the support they require, through to arrangements which support a person to self-manage.

At the request of the Minister for Disability, the Department for Families and Communities has been planning the implementation of self-managed funding arrangements.  The Office for Disability and Client Services has been leading the work which has entailed broad consultation with people with disabilities and their carers, service providers and other key stakeholders.  Phase one is commencing with current clients of Disability SA being invited to register interest in participating in the phase one initiative.  A panel will select 50 people to participate in phase one.  Participants will be current clients of Disability SA and have an existing allocation of ongoing disability support.  No additional funding is associated with this initiative.

Phase One: Self-managed Funding is a development phase.  Self-managed funding represents a new form of service delivery for people with disabilities and their carers and service providers.  For this reason participants will participate in an evaluation that informs future self-management arrangements.  Disability SA will ensure that participants have access to training, advice and assistance throughout Phase One.

Disability SA has set up an information line to provide information and answer any queries.

People interested in submitting a Registration of Interest and obtaining an information pack can do so via:

www.sa.gov.au/disability/selfmanagedfunding

or

Calling the Information Line on 1300 786 117

The South Australian Liberal Party have launched their policy on individualised funding entitled “Individualised Funding in Disability Services: EMPOWERING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY TO CREATE BETTER LIVES” The paper is attached Click here to read it.