Adult Lifestyle Support program
What is the Adult Lifestyle Support program?
The Adult Lifestyle Support program is one of the ways Disability Services Queensland assists adults with a disability to live and participate in their local community.
The Adult Lifestyle Support program contributes funding and support to help meet the disability support needs of individuals. This funding and support is intended to complement informal networks and promotes access to other general community services.
The funds provided through the Adult Lifestyle Support program can be used by adults with a disability in a variety of ways.
This might include providing support to:
- live at home and manage their household
- take part in recreations and leisure activities
- strengthen personal and family relationships and networks
- purchase necessary aides and equipment that cannot be provided by other agencies or government departments.
Who is eligible to receive assistance through the Adult Lifestyle Support program?
To be eligible for the Adult Lifestyle Support program, you will need to be between the ages of 18 and 65.
You will also need to meet the criteria outlined in the Disability Services Queensland Eligibility Policy1.
The person must be one of the following:
- an Australian citizen
- a permanent Australian resident
- a Temporary Protection Visa holder
- a New Zealand citizen who arrived in Australia prior to 26 February 2001
- a member of a family on a work or study visa sponsored by the Australian Government.
You must also live in Queensland and have a disability that:
- is attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive, neurological, sensory or physical impairment or a combination of impairments
- results in a substantial reduction of your capacity in one or more of the following areas: communication, social interaction, learning, mobility or self care/management
- results in you needing support and
- is permanent or is likely to be permanent (an may or may not be of chronic episodic nature) and
- manifests itself before the age of 65.
How do I apply for support?
A Disability Services Queensland Application for Support is required for a person with a disability to register or apply for Disability Services Queensland specialist disability services.
Copies of the Application for Support and the Guide to Completing the Application for Support are also available at any Disability Services Queensland Service Centre.
The Application for Support can be completed by a person with a disability over the age of 18, or by a family member (if the applicant is under 18 or unable to apply on their own behalf). A carer, advocate or service provider may also complete the Application for Support, if requested by the applicant.
The Application for Support can be posted to the nearest Disability Services Queensland regional office, or hand delivered to any Disability Services Queensland Service Centre located throughout Queensland.
Please note that applying for support and assistance does not guarantee support will be made available.
An Application Update Form should be submitted if your circumstances change. It is not necessary to re-apply.
How do we process your application?
Due to the large number of applications we receive, we undertake a thorough prioritisation process. All applications are reviewed by a priority panel and given a priority rating based on the applicant’s individual circumstances.
When funding becomes available, regional funding panels review all prioritised applications and make recommendations to the Statewide Funding Panel. The Statewide Funding Panel uses the priority ratings and other relevant information to make recommendations about who should receive funding and support.
Once funding recommendations are made, Disability Services Queensland regional staff undertake a verification process to ensure funding goes to the people who need it the most.
Once individual circumstances have been verified, recommendations for funding are submitted to the Minister for approval. Not all applications that are verified will be approved for funding.
The level of funding provided to successful applicants will depend on the level of funding available and the types of support requested.
How is support provided?
If your application to receive support through the Adult Lifestyle Support program is successful, funding will be allocated to a nominated service provider funded by Disability Services Queensland, on your behalf.
The service provider will then provide the support to you directly.
Updating your information
It is important to notify DSQ of any changes to your circumstances that impact on the information you previously provided in the DSQ Application for Support.
You should provide details of the changes by completing the Application Update Form. Copies of the Application Update Form and the Guide to Completing the Application Update are available at online and at any Disability Services Queensland Service Centre.
Further information
For further advice or assistance regarding the Adult Lifestyle Support program or to submit a DSQ Application for Support please contact your nearest DSQ Regional Office.
- Freecall:
- 1800 177 120
- TTY:
- 1800 010 222
1 These criteria reflect the definitions provided in section 11 of the Disability Services Act 2006.
Last updated June 2008