Premier Kristina Keneally launched Stronger Together stage 2 today providing $2.02billion in funding increases over the five years to 2015/16. This is in addition to the $2.02 billion that continues to fund existing service provision.
This is a welcome substantial increase in funding.
Has Stronger Together addressed our priorities?
Priority 1
Provide all existing and new users of government and non government disability services the opportunity to direct their own support, including self managed options, direct payment, use of a financial intermediary and the ability to move to a different service of their choice.
Stronger Together
“Individualised funding arrangements will become available from 2011/2012 and by the end of 2013/14, anyone receiving disability services will have the option of using an individualised and portable funding arrangement. (This includes funding in day programs and congregate accommodation services.) The policy settings to achieve this goal will be developed in consultation with people with a disability and their families and carers, service providers, peaks and other stakeholders.”(p21)
Our comment
It is great to see a strong commitment with timelines for everyone to have individualised and portable funding arrangements. Whilst we understand that transformation takes time, we will be looking to see that:
- people who want control over their resources have the opportunity at the earliest point in time;
- individualised portable funding arrangements translate into choice, voice and control.
Priority 2
Provide assistance to people to direct their own support allowing them to develop their knowledge and skills. The assistance must be independent of government and service providers.
Stronger Together
“Decision making resources (such as information, planning, advocacy, case management, service brokers and support coordination) will be expanded by $141.2m over the next 5 years to assist individuals, their families and carers to identify needs and goals, plan their service requirements, access specialist disability services and assist with access to mainstream services.” (p21)
Our comment
Decision making resources are important and welcomed. We need to ensure the ‘decision making resources’ are independent of government and service providers, able to be accessed easily and give the person with disability control.
Priority 3
Provide transition support for services.
Stronger Together
“The Sector Development Plan released in June 2010 embraces the shift to person centredness and commits the provider sector to the development required to supply services in a person and family-centred way” (p21)
“Continue to support the development of workforce and industry capacity through training and development initiatives of $5m per year ($25m over 5 years) (p27)
Our comment
Services need significant assistance so that they can support people to direct their own support. The voices of people with disability and families need to be heard in the process of service transformation.
Amalgamate all disability service program areas into a single funding program (as occurred in Victoria) and realign ADHC processes consistent with a set of principles for a self directed approach.
Stronger Together
Stronger Together is silent on the administrative arrangements that will be put in place to facilitate the commitment that by the end of 2013/14, anyone receiving disability services will have the option of using an individualised and portable funding arrangement.
Our comment
The Stronger Together goal of “choice, portability and flexibility in funding and supports” must liberate people from the constraints of program silos and the requirement to use service providers. True choice, flexibility and portability means people have control over how the money is used.
The backroom strategies of government are of little concern to people with disability and families. The critical feature and our goal is to ensure that government and service provider processes do not intrude into people’s lives and that there is a minimum of bureaucracy and paperwork.
Supported Living Fund
Stronger Together 2 has committed to introduce 100 Supported Living Fund packages in 2011/12, 2012/13 and 2013/i4 (300 in total - $60m over 5 years)
Our comment
This is an excellent start. For the first time in decades, people not in crisis will have access to government funding to enable men and women with disability to have a home of their own using paid support to complement the contribution of family and friends.
All large residential centres will be closed by 2017/18
Our comment
This decision is truly welcomed. We need to ensure that the self directed opportunities of Stronger Together 2 are available as people leave large residential centres.
Next steps
Next week we are meeting with Minister, Peter Primrose and senior staff of Ageing Disability and Home Care to clarify their intentions and to argue the key requirements of the Self Directed Supports Campaign.
We will keep you posted.
Belinda Epstein-Frisch AM
Family Advocacy
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