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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-06-22 Daily Xml
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DISABILITY SELF-MANAGED FUNDING

Mrs VLAHOS (Taylor) (15:20): Will the Minister for Disability update the house on progress made in introducing self-managed funding for disabled South Australians?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE (Wright—Minister for Families and Communities, Minister for Housing, Minister for Ageing, Minister for Disability) (15:20): Yesterday afternoon, a significant milestone was achieved with the signing of the first of our disability self-managed contracts here in South Australia. We had a small ceremony here in Parliament House that was attended by a group of participants and carers involved in the initial phase of this initiative. Also in attendance were members of the Self-Managed Funding Panel and staff from the Office of Disability and Client Services. I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their hard work and for making this a reality. Yesterday, they saw first-hand the impact and importance of—

Ms Chapman: Was David Holst there?

The Hon. J.M. RANKINE: Yes, he was actually. Yesterday, they saw first-hand the impact and importance of the work they have been painstakingly undertaking. For some time, South Australians with disabilities and their advocates have been calling for self-managed funding arrangements.

The first phase of our self-managed funding initiative aims to provide 50 people with the opportunity to transfer their current disability support services into a self-managed funding arrangement. Some participants will manage their own funding and support arrangements independently, while others will be supported by carers or non-government organisations to do so. Yesterday at the signing there was a mix of these participants. To date, 47 people have been approved to take part, and registrations of interest will continue until we reach 50.

Once agreements are in place, the department provides money to participants or carers to enable them to buy the services of their choice. For example, one participant has already arranged to do their grocery shopping online, freeing up two hours a week of personal support for other activities. Another carer's plan for their adult child has allowed them to negotiate a more flexible respite service to allow them to take a well earned break. One dad said to me yesterday that, after he had signed the agreement, he felt that for the first time in over 20 years they had their lives back.

Self-managed funding forms part of the Rann government's aim to provide greater choice and control to people with disabilities. It also emphasises our focus of putting people at the centre of services and empowering them. As this initiative is a major change, we want to be sure that we get this right during its developmental stage. Phase 1 is about learning through action and engaging with stakeholders about the way specialist disability services are provided, and an independent evaluation will further support this development.

While there is still a way to go, the foundations are now set for a better way forward for many South Australians with a disability, their families and carers, and this government is proud to have put this process in motion.

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