Budget boost for better disability service delivery
The new budget focuses on people's individual needs.A significant boost to the Disability Services Queensland budget is encouraging news for people with a disability and their families and carers. This record funding includes the new Growing Stronger initiative as well as other projects targeted at building quality of life for people in the sector.
The catalyst for these initiatives stems partially from the Carter Report, released in May. Disability Services Queensland has been assigned some new portfolio responsibilities in the process.
The 2007-08 budget for Disability Services Queensland was announced along with a four-year initiative titled Growing Stronger - a program that responds to issues and concerns raised by the community during broad consultation. In his post-budget briefing Disability Services Minister Warren Pitt addressed recommendations made by the Honourable WJ Carter QC of the needs of people with an intellectual disability who exhibit severely challenging behaviour.
Following is a snapshot of the budget and what it means for the sector, and a look at the Growing Stronger initiative. It includes an overview of the Carter Report and the Queensland Government's response to its recommendations.
Budget highlights
This year's record state budget for disability services includes $717 million for its operational component, which is a 13 per cent increase on last year's funding. The budget is focused on service delivery, infrastructure, and development and innovation towards a better quality of life for people with a disability across Queensland.
Mr Pitt says the additional funding will enable the government to build on previous successes, instigate new responses and ensure it continues providing the support and services for the changing and diverse needs of Queensland families and individuals.
Between 2007-08 and 2010-11, new funding will boost disability services to help meet the increasing demand for service and deliver better outcomes for Queenslanders with a disability, their families, carers and service providers.
Mr Pitt says during the past six years, the Queensland Government has continued to increase its investment in disability services - achieving record levels each year.
"I am very proud of this achievement. However, the reality is that the demand for disability services also continues to rise. Unfortunately, there may never be enough money to meet all of the needs of all Queenslanders with a disability through funded service provision alone," he says.
"Having said this, I do believe we can work smarter with the money and resources we do have.
"The Growing Stronger initiative is an important part of this year's agenda for Disability Services Queensland and represents a new approach to the delivery of disability services."
This year's budget for Disability Services Queensland also includes funding for two new services recently transferred to the department: Home and Community Care and Mental Health Services.
The state budget for Disability Services Queensland can be found at www.disability.qld.gov.au/budget/07-08/
Growing Stronger - investing in a better disability service system
Growing Stronger: building the capacity to live as independently as possible within supportive communities.At the heart of Growing Stronger is the aim of building the capacity of people with a disability to live as independently as possible within inclusive and supportive Queensland communities. It is a four-year, $52 million program that represents better services that are easier to access and fairer for all, as well as being more sustainable into the future.
The three key priority areas for Growing Stronger are:
- To introduce fair and transparent access to specialist disability services, through standard and uniform assessment processes and prioritisation for services based on assessment outcomes.
- To introduce a person-centred approach to delivering specialist disability services, through tailored service responses informed by assessment outcomes.
- To improve service management across the state to ensure efficient, effective and responsive delivery of disability services.
Minister Warren Pitt says Growing Stronger is a program of reform that was partly based upon the feedback from people he has encountered through consultation including the department's Have Your Say initiative and conference events, such as Shared Visions.
"I have spoken with many Queenslanders with a disability, their families and carers and those working in the disability sector. I have actively sought people's views about how we can create a better system, including many personal representations made to me across the entire state," he says. "Growing Stronger represents a significant investment in developing more effective systems and processes."
The initiative includes $28.6 million over the next four years towards the Disability Services Queensland Information System (DISQIS) to assist the department in planning for the future. "This information and technology infrastructure will provide Disability Services Queensland with reliable information on client needs and sector capacity and, ultimately, it will strengthen the department's planning capacity to deliver appropriate, flexible, timely and cost-effective responses to client needs," Mr Pitt says.
"In time, this investment will help us tailor our service responses, to maintain or improve the capacity of people with a disability, to live as independently as possible.
"By this, I mean that improving a person's capacity in areas such as communication, self-care and social interaction, people can become less dependent on formal and informal supports and have a better chance of living in and being part of their community."
Mr Pitt says that the department's commitment to having people with a disability enjoy supportive and inclusive communities will bring success to the Growing Stronger initiative.
Full details on the Growing Stronger initiative can be found at www.disability.qld.gov.au/key-projects/growing-stronger/
Last updated November 2007