DISABILITY SELF-MANAGED FUNDING

In reply to the Hon. K.L. VINCENT (27 October 2010).

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Public Sector Management, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Consumer Affairs, Minister for Government Enterprises): The Minister for Disability has provided the following information:

1. As of 17 January 2011, a total of 44 people are participating in the Phase One: Self-managed Funding Initiative. Of these:

32 currently have a signed self-managed funding agreement and have commenced self-managed funding.

12 people are finalising their plans.

2. At this point in time, no one who has signed a self-managed funding agreement has withdrawn.

3. A decision for new self-managed funding arrangements will be made available once the evaluation of Phase One is complete and the service and policy development indicated by the outcomes of the evaluation and consultative process has been undertaken. The long term goal is for all disability service recipients to have the option of self-managed funding.

4. Extending self-managed funding to people who are clients of other disability services, not just Community and Home Support SA (formerly Disability SA) is a long term goal.

5. Phase One of self-managed funding is enabling Community and Home Support SA to develop and test mechanisms such as Personal Support and Expenditure Plans that support people with disabilities and their carers to have choice and autonomy in deciding what services best meet their needs. Once the evaluation and consultative processes are complete, Community and Home Support SA will be examining how these mechanisms can be applied more broadly to people who are not self-managing.

In addition to this, the Person Centred Active Support Model is progressively being implemented in Disability Services accommodation. Person Centred Active Support is a model which supports people living with a disability to be actively involved and participate in their own life. It is based on the principles of choice, decision making, engagement, empowerment, inclusion and citizenship. Implementation involves extensive staff training in these areas.