Approach to Client Directed Supports and

Individualised Budgets in NSW

4th National Disability Summit

Presented by: Jim Longley

Chief Executive – Ageing, Disability and Home Care

Tuesday 12 March 2013

Living Life My Way Vision

“For the first time we’ve got an opportunity to step

outside what a service can provide.

For our sons and daughters and ourselves to do the

best thing with the government funding.

It’s a bit scary but it’s a good opportunity…because

what I can do now with my daughter is try new things.

Some of those things won’t work…and…that’s how

we’ll find out. Right now she’s locked into something

that doesn’t work because of guidelines.”

- Parent

What the system must deliver …

NSW Government Living Life My Way reforms

NSW NDIS agreement with Australian Government

Key features of a self directed system:

– Comprehensive, accurate, accessible and culturally appropriate information about supports and services

– Clear pathways to mainstream and specialist disability supports

– Support planning to plan for the future

– Funding arrangements that enable individuals and families to choose their supports and move between service providers if they wish

– Decision supports to enable a person to exercise choice and control

Aligning Stronger Together 2 reforms with NDIS

implementation

Stronger Together 2 must ensure that NSW is ‘NDIS-

ready’

System changes must not result in people having to

change again when the NDIS comes into being

Wherever possible, NDIS should reflect system features

sought by Living Life My Way participants

Lessons from the Hunter launch will inform

implementation of the full scheme

Jan 2013 July 2013June

2016

June

2018

June

2019

June

2023

Hunter NDIS launch

commences

New funding

cycle

Stronger

Together 2

funding

finalised

NDIS National rollout commences

NSW 2021 target of

100% individualised

funding

NSW wide NDIS transition commences

LRC redevelopment

complete

Hunter launch rollout

NSW transition planning

Launch implementation

preparation

PCA implementation

Funding transition to support PCA rolled out

Funding mechanism

for full scheme

agreed

PC reports

Dec

2017

ST

2B

AS

EN

DIS

Implementation Timeline

Stronger Together 2 - Support Pathways and

Community Inclusion

Ability Links NSW to provide:

– Front-line information and planning support across

NSW

– Improved access to mainstream and community

based supports

National Disability Strategy Implementation:

– Changing community attitudes

– Improving access to mainstream services, events and

resources

Stronger Together 2 - Legislative reform

Reforms are underpinned by the UN Convention

Need an integrated legal framework that:

– recognises the rights of people with disability

– draws together laws that affect them

DSA review to determine how the current framework

needs to change to:

– support the transition to a reformed system

– ongoing safeguards for people with disability in NSW

Stronger Together 2 - Consumer choice

and control

System must be geared towards achieving the outcomes

people want and need

Individual budgets are a key strategy for putting people

with disability in the driving seat

Need a spectrum of planning and support options to cater

for consumer diversity

People may need support to participate in new system

Specific strategies are required for Aboriginal and CALD

communities, developed in partnership

Role of the disability sector in driving reform

In the new system, ADHC’s role will change service

providers will have a greater responsibility for shaping

the future of disability services

Industry Development Fund is laying the foundations,

but it is just the beginning

The transition to a self-directed disability system may

require fundamental organisational and cultural change

Building the capacity of the sector

A successful transition requires NGO leadership and good

governance

Investment in workforce recruitment and development

Moving to system in which there will higher expectations

for quality, tailored supports

Greater emphasis on achieving outcomes based on

person centred planning

NSW Quality Framework will support providers to

strengthen quality management systems

The future of disability supports in NSW

A diverse, sustainable disability sector is critical to the

success of Stronger Together 2 and the NDIS

The sector itself will play an increasing role in driving

the reform agenda

ADHC is committed to working in partnership with both

consumers and the sector the build the best NDIS

possible