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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1999 Week 4 Hansard (22 April) . . Page.. 1183 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

I shall give examples of recent improvements in the ACT. More appropriate housing options have been developed for younger people with disabilities who were previously residents of nursing homes. New respite and integrated in-home support services have been purchased to provide clients with a greater range of choice and more effective service delivery. The ACT community care disability program instituted a program of reform in 1996 and has made significant progress with these reforms. The progress includes the establishment of a service agreement framework detailing arrangements between the consumer and the disability program, implementation of individual planning for all clients, a range of staff training initiatives, improved case management for consumers, the introduction of a quality framework, the development of operational policies, three-year accreditation with the Australian Council of Health Standards, and work force management reforms. Several of the reforms in the ACT community care disability program will provide information and frameworks to assist in quality improvement within the rest of the disability sector.

Planning is under way for the establishment of a service provider resource centre, which will be available to non-government service providers to assist with matters such as staff training and development, policy development and planning, information on best practice, networking, communicating with government and operating in the purchaser-provider environment. Additional community access programs have been supported to provide people with meaningful daytime activities. A new service, known as community connections, has been established to assist people with complex needs to negotiate the service system.

Whilst the ACT has not been sitting on its hands, it is time that the Commonwealth, as the main collector of revenue, took action to redress a situation which disregards the needs of people who should be treated as valued members of our community. In addition to a considerable funding contribution, the ACT Government has directed major efforts to the reform of the disability services sector. These reforms aim to achieve stronger consumer focus, equity of access, improved service quality and better value for money. The strategic plan for disability services, on which the ACT community is currently being consulted, will continue and strengthen this effort in coming years. However, even with careful prioritisation of access to services and efficient use of available funds and other resources, it is currently impossible to provide a quantum and quality of service which will enable ACT people with disabilities and their carers to achieve a quality of life comparable to that of other citizens.

Work is being undertaken in the ACT to identify more clearly the extent and type of unmet need of people with disabilities as well as that of older people and carers. The profiles developed in this process will further assist future service planning and the development of policy to effectively meet these needs. The available information indicates that there is unmet need across the whole spectrum of disability support services as well as for improvements in access to mainstream services, facilities and activities for people with disabilities. It is our aim to support people with disabilities in ways which meet their individual needs and preferences. In response to the diversity of people's support needs, we will be emphasising, wherever possible, the purchase of flexible services based on these needs, rather than on restrictive service types and models. The increased potential of these services to facilitate genuine, positive outcomes for service users also means that they provide better value for money.

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