cp_lc_aa_program_guidelines.pdf

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Community Participation,Life Choices & Active Ageing

Contemporary learning and skillsprograms for adults with a disability

Program Guidelines

Community AccessAgeing, Disabil ity and Home Care

NSW Department of Family and Community ServicesNovember 2012


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1 Purpose of these Guidelines

Debbie Life ChoicesThe Guidelines set out the framework for providing contemporary learning andskills development programs for adults with a disability:

Community Participation is intended for young people with a disabilityas a post school pathway;

Life Choices is designed for adults; and Active Ageing for older adults.

These guidelines have been written by Ageing, Disability and Home Care,Department of Family and Community Services NSW (ADHC), in consultationwith people with a disability, their families and carers, service providers andadvocacy groups. They are designed to present an outline of the latestdirections in learning and skills development programs.

Community Participation was implemented in 2005. Life Choices and ActiveAgeing were introduced in 2009 under the NSW Governments Stronger

Together: A new direction for disability services in NSW 2006-2016.

Together, these programs provide greater choice and flexibility for people witha disability who participate in different activities and services. They also aim toaddress individual needs, aspirations and be age appropriate.

ADHC regional officers play an integral and ongoing role in theimplementation of the Community Participation, Life Choices and ActiveAgeing Programs. The Information, Referral and Intake (IRI) teams, based inADHC regions, are generally the first point of contact for ADHC fundedservices and programs. Contact details for the IRI teams are at the end of this

document.These guidelines and related documents may be obtained from ADHCswebsite at www.adhc.nsw.gov.au

Comments or suggestions for improving these guidelines can be emailed [email protected]

Community Participation, Life Choices & Active Ageing Program Guidelines 4
http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/


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2 Program overview

Mabel Active Ageing

2.1 Learning and skills development programs

These programs provide opportunities for people with a disability to participatein their community and enjoy a range of purposeful, recreational and leisureactivities. In NSW, learning and skills development programs are generally

provided by non-government organisations funded by ADHC.Most of these programs focus on the following types of activities:

Skills development, including preparation for work;

Adult education, including vocational activities;

Participating in the community; and

Recreation and leisure.

Under Stronger Together: A new direction for disability services in NSW 2006-2016, ADHC is implementing reforms such as:

Making services more person centred;

Enabling an individual to self manage their program;

Ensuring people can exercise choice in terms of how they receiveservices (model options);

Developing better provisions for ongoing services and support forpeople after they leave school, through adulthood and on to older age;

Building greater capacity to provide individually funded learning andskills development programs while moving away from block grantfunding1; and

Enabling individuals to change service providers and transition fromLife Choices to Active Ageing as they age and/or move from one lifestage to another.

1Block funding is the traditional funding model used by ADHC for delivering learning and skillsdevelopment programs. A wide range of service providers exist, targeting different support needs, targetgroups and disability type. Historically, entry into these services has been determined by the auspicingservice provider. Individual funding refers to the allocation of funds by ADHC to provide services for an

individual participant based on their needs and aspirations. The funding is portable meaning if a personchanges their service provider then the funding moves with them to the new organisation.



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2.2 Community Participation, Life Choices and ActiveAgeing

The Programs are funded by ADHC to:

provide contemporary learning and skills development activities withina continuum of supports for adults with a disability, using a personcentred approach;

offer options to individuals in terms of more meaningful activities,including participating in community life;

provide greater flexibility and choice in terms of individual goals, needs,values, age, life stage, health, interests, service hours and otherpriorities;

offer supports and activities that can be customised to the expectations

and aspirations of each participant in the Programs.Aiming Highis an ADHC brochure that contains the stories and photographsof 22 people who have benefited from participating in the Life Choices andActive Ageing Programs. It describes the ways in which people of diversebackgrounds and goals can utilise the choices available under thesePrograms, and can be found at the following link:

www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/sp/delivering_disability_services/day_programs

2.3 EligibilityThe Programs are for adults with a disability who are residents of NSW, havean intellectual, psychiatric, physical, sensory disability or like impairment, areeligible for a service under the NSW Disability Services Act 1993and areassessed as eligible by ADHC.

Often a case by case, flexible and tailored approach may be required toaddress individual needs, goals and extraordinary circumstances. Optionsoutside of ADHC funded services should be considered at all times. Theseinclude employment and aged care supports funded by the Commonwealth

Government and services provided by Local Councils.

Community Participation is for young people:

who are leaving school or up to two years after leaving school;

who are not undertaking full time paid employment. Part timeemployment is encouraged. When a participant chooses to increasetheir hours of work, Community Participation funding will be reduced ona pro rata basis to reflect the amount of program hours the participantchooses to maintain outside of employment. Pro rata funding will alsobe applied if a participant chooses to access fewer program hours for

other reasons (for more detail please see section 3.15 CommunityParticipation and Employment and section 7.1.1 Quarterly payments);

http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/sp/delivering_disability_services/day_programshttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/sp/delivering_disability_services/day_programshttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/sp/delivering_disability_services/day_programs


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who are not undertaking full time vocational or higher education(attendance at part time vocational or higher education is encouraged);

who have been approved to transfer from the Transition to WorkProgram.

Life Choices is foradults:

who are not undertaking full time paid employment or full timevocational or higher education (a person working or studying part timeis still eligible, however places are prioritised on need andcircumstances).

Active Ageing is for older adults:

who are not undertaking full time paid employment or full timevocational or higher education (a person working or studying part time

is still eligible, however places are prioritised on need andcircumstances).

Active Ageing is also for people with early onset ageing, and Aboriginalpeople with early onset ageing or requiring specialised service provision2.

People over 64 years of age and requiring specialist disability services maybe eligible for programs funded by the Commonwealth Government

2.3.1 Priority of Access

Entry into a Life Choices or Active Ageing Program is not guaranteed even if aperson meets all of the above eligibility criteria. This is because availablefunding is limited, meaning prioritisation takes place on the basis of (the listbelow is not ranked or in order of preference):

people living in the community who do not have access to existinglearning and skills development support;

people living in group homes and other types of supportedaccommodation who are in need of a learning and skills developmentprogram;

2Specific sub-groups of people with lifelong disability, such as people with Down syndrome, cerebralpalsy or post polio syndrome, who may experience premature signs of ageing, have an increased risk ofdementia, Alzheimers disease or experience marked physical decline as early as their 40s (Balandin &Morgan, 1997: Moss & Patel, 1997: Zigman, 1997). The level of disability among Aboriginal people isestimated to be 2.4 times higher than the rest of the Australian population. ADHC's Aboriginal PolicyFramework outlines that, given the disadvantages within Aboriginal communities, a key objective of theagency is to recognise that quality of life, health and wellbeing are essential to... maximising the abilityof Aboriginal people to function independently in society.It is with this in mind, that criteria and eligibilityflexibility should be considered by recognising that the effects of disadvantage and poor rates of lifeexpectancy can bring about dramatic impacts on a healthy life cycle, such as early onset ageing, which

could require specialised service provision from 40 to 45 years of age for an Aboriginal or Torres StraitIslander person.



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persons who are at risk of entering a more intensive support modelunless entry into a day or learning and skills development service isfacilitated;

people who have older parents or carers; and

persons with limited or no access to other services for reasons of socialisolation, geographic location and limited peer support networks.

2.4 Principles

ADHC expects the following principles to be reflected across all its fundedservices. Accordingly, service providers are monitored by ADHC in terms oftheir compliance against these principles as well as other program specificrequirements.

Person centred

People with a disability direct how their supports and services are plannedand designed to meet their aspirations, goals and needs.

Responsive to Aboriginal people

The needs and aspirations of Aboriginal people as the first peoples ofAustralia are respected and valued.

Responsive to cultural, linguistic and religious diversity

The needs of individuals of all cultural, language and religious backgroundsare respected and valued.

Strengths and partnership based

An individuals strengths and capabilities guide the setting of goals andactivities, which should be developed, wherever possible, through genuinepartnerships between the person, their families/support people and serviceproviders.

Age and life stage appropriateSupports and activities are suitable for the persons age and life stage.

Social inclus ion and participation in the community

People with a disability, including those living in rural and remote areas, feelvalued and have the opportunity to participate fully in the life of our society,particularly through their chosen support networks and social groups, andmainstream supports in their local community.



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Flexibili ty and choice

Changing needs, life stages and goals are catered for as an individualscircumstances, interests, cultural expectations and priorities change. For

example, a person can change the activities they participate in, the wayservices are delivered to them (model options) or their service provider.

Healthy and fulfill ing li festyles

Healthy lifestyles are promoted through activities focused on physical, mentaland social development that are designed to suit individual needs and lifestage. For example, some Aboriginal people may require specific supportsfrom Aboriginal service providers to be involved comfortably in a program andfeel welcomed; some individuals may need specialised therapy and otherremedial supports to engage in their chosen activities.

Integrated and collaborative practice

Service providers work in partnership with the person with a disability and,with their consent, their families and carers, other relevant organisations andthe broader community.

Continuous improvement

All available research and evidence are used so that programs reflect goodpractice.

2.5 Entering a Program

Community Participation

Entry into the program can be through the following:

As a school leaver, and involves:

Registration with ADHC mid way through Year 12 with support fromthe school;

Assessment3conducted by the schools Transition Teacher or

another independent person with agreement from the youngperson and their family/guardian; and

Guided transition from school to the Program through timelyinformation, support and assessment by school staff.

Early/Late entry arrangements, where relevant. Most young peopleenter the Program after they have completed Year 12 as schools areresponsible for ensuring that all students are encouraged andsupported to complete Year 12. However, in some situations and

3Standardised screening tools are used with a focus on daily living functioning, behaviour and domestic

functioning. The tools have been developed by the Australian Health Services Research Institute atthe University of Wollongong and they assess the results though the identity of individuals is notdisclosed to the University.



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through a case by case review, it may be in the best interest of a youngperson aged over 17 years to commence in the Program either prior tocompletion of Year 12 or up to two years after they have completedYear 12. Young adults who do not apply to the Community

Participation Program during school or in the two years after, can applyfor a Life Choices placement.

Life Choices & Active Ageing

The steps involved are different for each participant since each personsneeds, goals and experiences are unique. However, participants cangenerally expect the following:

When you contact ADHC (see Section 6 for contact details), someinformation about you and your support needs will be discussed. Youor your support person will need to give your name, address, telephone

number, age, cultural diversity information and interpreterrequirements, and describe:

what type of physical, psychological and behavioural supports youneed;

the types of community activities, if any, you are involved in;

how you will benefit from becoming more involved in yourcommunity; and

what sorts of activities you enjoy.

You may be asked to fill in a form asking for more information about

your medical/health history, support needs and your livingarrangements.

ADHC staff will contact you to give you more information, discuss yourchoices and options and then formally request funding approval.

Choosing a provider and service model - Community Participation, Life

Choices and Active Ageing

ADHC staff can give you information about the different ways ofaccessing supports that best meet your needs these are called modeloptions. There are three model options under these Programs centrebased with community access, individual community based and selfmanaged. These are described in Section 3.4 on Model Options.

If you are interested in the self managed model option, then you maylike to read the following document first:http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0006/241683/ADHC_SMM_booklet_Nov2011.pdf

Once you and ADHC staff have discussed which organisations offerthe services you want, you can choose to visit some or all of them toget an idea of their services. ADHC will support you to link withproviders that meet your needs. Link to view a listing of providers inyour local area:

http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0019/241237/List_of_Approved_Service_Providers_Oct2012.pdf

http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0006/241683/ADHC_SMM_booklet_Nov2011.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0006/241683/ADHC_SMM_booklet_Nov2011.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0019/241237/List_of_Approved_Service_Providers_Oct2012.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0019/241237/List_of_Approved_Service_Providers_Oct2012.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0019/241237/List_of_Approved_Service_Providers_Oct2012.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0019/241237/List_of_Approved_Service_Providers_Oct2012.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0006/241683/ADHC_SMM_booklet_Nov2011.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0006/241683/ADHC_SMM_booklet_Nov2011.pdf


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Once ADHC staff have confirmed your service provider, they can assistwith setting up a meeting with you, your support people and the serviceprovider where you can discuss your goals and come up with a plan ofactivities that best suits your goals, needs and expectations.

You then commence your program. You may need to or want tochange your model option and/or your service provider if you aremoving to another area, or because you are not happy or you feel thatyou are not achieving your goals, or something has changed in yourlife.

ADHC staff can assist you with changing providers and/or modeloption. Your program funding will move with you if you decide tochange service providers.

2.6 Role of ADHCADHC plays an important role in the entry and participation of a person in theCommunity Participation, Life Choices and Active Ageing Programs. Theyassist with the following:

fostering effective communication between participants, theirfamilies/support people, service providers, other individuals andorganisations on a needs basis and through participant consent.Wherever possible, communication must be accessible and provided inthe participants preferred language so that they can make informed

choices and decisions; providing clear, current, accessible and multilingual information, where

possible, on the Programs, model options and ADHC funded serviceproviders in each local government area;

assessing participant needs and supports to determine programeligibility with reference to internal intake and referral processes, theprinciples outlined in Section 2.4 and through a person centredapproach;

assisting participants with choosing and understanding model options,selecting a service provider and changing providers;

working in partnership with service providers about participant supportneeds, service arrangements and emerging priorities;

offering advice regarding transport issues with reference to Section3.11 on Transport and Fees;

supporting participants with transitioning between Programs (e.g. fromCommunity Participation into Transition to Work or from Life Choicesinto Active Ageing); and

building the capacity of ADHC funded services through policies andprograms, legislative changes, research and innovation, funding andmonitoring frameworks, information, forums and training so that

services are relevant to a persons needs (including communicationand language), values, experiences and expectations.



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3 Service delivery

Mark Life Choices

3.1 Role of service providersADHC approved service providers play a key role in the provision of learningand skills programs, which are often the central support in funded services for

people with a disability. Given the importance of these programs and theways in which they enhance quality of life outcomes for people with adisability, it is critical that service providers:

ensure their organisation, staff, governance mechanisms, complaintsand feedback system and services reflect the values, respect andunderstanding needed to provide meaningful services for people with adisability in a culturally and linguistically diverse society;

use a person centred approach for planning, delivering services,activities and information to Program participants, consistent with theprinciples outlined in Section 2.4;

develop and implement Individual Plans for each participant incollaboration with them as well as their circle of support; the Plansmust reflect as many hours of services/activities per week as possiblewith reference to the provisions outlined in Section 3.5 on IndividualPlans;

assist participants, their families and support people with futureplanning4and, where relevant, locate this process in the context ofcultural expectations, obligations and perspectives;

comply with all relevant legislative, program funding, monitoring andreporting requirements; and

regularly liaise with ADHC and participate in discussions with ADHCstaff regarding participants, their support needs, transition and otherrelevant issues.

The following sections on person centred approaches and delivering culturallyresponsive and competent services describe elements of good practice.

4Future planning involves many issues related to long term and whole of life services, support and

care. See Planning for the future: People with disability(2007, updated November 2011) by theCommonwealth Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

http://www.facs.gov.au/sa/carers/pubs/planningfuture/Pages/default.aspxhttp://www.facs.gov.au/sa/carers/pubs/planningfuture/Pages/default.aspx


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3.2 Person Centred ApproachesADHC funded service providers are contracted to provide a person centredapproach to service delivery.

There are fivekey elements to a person centred approach:

the person is at the centre. Planning focuses on finding out what theperson wants to do and achieve in their life, their abilities and thesupports needed;

if the person chooses, their wider social network is involved as a fullpartner and the contributions, knowledge of families, carers andmembers of the local community are valued;

there is a partnership between the person, their support people and theservice provider. All parties involved have a shared commitment toaction;

the whole of life is considered. Within available resources, servicesalign with the goals and needs of the person and look beyondtraditional constraints; and

there is continued listening, learning and action. New goals are set as apersons experience, needs and expectations grow.

Implementing a person centred approach

ADHC funded organisations need to adopt a person centred approach and

ensure this is embedded in all aspects of service provision. This processshould incorporate the following strategies:

training staff in a person centred approach, or using trained externalfacilitators when developing plans;

providing information to participants and their families/support peopleabout a person centred approach and how to be the key driver of theprocess;

promoting the development of supportive networks around theparticipant who is involved in developing and implementing theIndividual Plan, without assuming responsibilities for family and support

people; supporting the involvement of participants and their support people in

the process by being available at times and places that suit them (e.g.flexible hours);

designing supports and activities based on the plans of all people in theservice; and

as required, contributing to joint service planning with other serviceproviders.

More information on a person centred approach is available from the ADHCwebsite:www.adhc.nsw.gov.au

http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/


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The Community Participation, Life Choices and Active Ageing Programs arepremised on greater levels of collaboration between ADHC fundedorganisations, other service providers and community based groups. Theseelements were highlighted in the approval process for providers of these

programs. Specifically, service providers have responsibility for:

linking these learning and skills development programs with disabilityspecific and universal services;

assisting with the development of a coordinated continuum of supportoptions for participants from the time they enter the program through toolder age and retirement; and

enabling participants to make good use of other services and activitiesavailable in the community and through the wider service system.

3.3 Delivering Culturally Responsive and CompetentServices

Service providers are funded by ADHC to deliver competent services that areresponsive to individual needs and expectations (see Section 3.2 on a PersonCentred Approach).

There are a number of ways service providers can meet their responsibility toprovide accessible, equitable, responsive and respectful services forAboriginal people with a disability. These include:

working closely with each Aboriginal participant, their family, supportpeople and community, without assuming that every Aboriginal personwill have a strong family and/or kinship network;

building organisational capabilities for providing services that areresponsive to the needs of Aboriginal people through:

genuine engagement, partnerships and empowerment activitieswith local Aboriginal communities, including outreach strategies orintegrated service approaches; and

relevant policies, programs, workplace training, governancemechanisms and strategies for recognising good practice with

reference to the advice and involvement of Aboriginal participantsand local Aboriginal communities.

employing Aboriginal staff to provide services for Aboriginalparticipants but providing choice if they also wish to provide servicesfor non-Aboriginal participants;

giving Aboriginal participants the option of having their servicesprovided by Aboriginal staff only;

ensuring that all staff participate in ongoing practice-centred and locallyfocused training on Aboriginal values, experiences, expectations andpriorities, provided by Aboriginal trainers;

promoting participation by Aboriginal people on the Board orManagement Committee or purpose designed organisational



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governance committees for service planning, development anddelivery;

engaging with local Aboriginal organisations and communities toidentify culturally appropriate communication strategies and seeking

the input of Aboriginal families/carers/advocates on the suitability andeffectiveness of these strategies;

sub-contracting/brokering expertise from Aboriginal organisations; and

ensuring that a current and robust anti-discrimination strategy andAboriginal inclusion framework are in place and integrated across allaspects of core business.

All ADHC approved and funded organisations are expected to have an anti-discrimination strategy in place. As people from a non-English speakingbackground (NESB) with disability experience multiple layers of discrimination discrimination on the basis of disability, race or ethnicity, gender, sexualityetc5, it is imperative that such strategies are regularly reviewed andmonitored.

Service providers must reflect:

accessible, equitable and respectful services that are responsive tocultural, linguistic and religious diversity;

capabilities to work with this diversity and integration of these across alllevels of their organisations, including all policies and programs,recruitment and retention of staff, workplace learning activities,governance mechanisms, Boards or Management Committees and

strategies for recognising good practice; relevant and culturally competent service delivery, demonstrated

through the consistency and quality of client feedback;

specific strategies for working with linguistically diverse communities intheir local areas, which include developing networks and partnerships;

specific strategies to build greater capability and capacity within theirorganisations to provide culturally competent services including:

recruitment and retention of staff from culturally and linguisticallydiverse backgrounds;

practice-centred cultural diversity training provided at all levels ofan organisation;

language services and communication strategies, including usingaccredited interpreters, bilingual and multilingual staffappropriately;

purchasing capacity building expertise from organisations thatspecialise in cultural competence; and

anti-discrimination policies and programs which are integratedacross all aspects of core business.

5National Ethnic Disability Alliance (Date unknown) Racial Discrimination and DisabilityHarris Park Sydney



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3.4 Model OptionsUnder Community Participation, Life Choices and Active Ageing, participantschoose how they would like to access support. They can select from thefollowing three model options:

Centre Based with Community Access refers to activities duringthe day involving small groups of people who may share similar goalsand interests, generally in a centre arranged by the service providerand with access to community activities;

Individual Community Based Options refers to activities in a rangeof community settings that are selected and arranged with the supportfrom the service provider.

Self Managed Model refers to activities in various settings arrangedand purchased by the participant with the support of an intermediary

service provider who manages financial, legal and administrativerequirements (more information at the following link:http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0006/241683/ADHC_SMM_booklet_Nov2011.pdf)

Participants in all the model options make decisions about their own servicesand have choices in terms of the activities that best meet their needs,interests, life stage and circumstances. There are many overlaps betweenthese model options so it is possible to combine elements from each one inorder to participate in chosen activities.

Participants can change their model options as their needs and circumstances

change, however, this is contingent on the availability of appropriate serviceproviders in the nominated area/s.

3.5 Individual PlansUnder the Community Participation, Life Choices and Active AgeingPrograms, every participant needs to have an Individual Plan (the Plan),which is developed through discussion and agreement between them, theirfamilies, support people and their service providers. The Plan identifies how

the participant will be supported by the service provider to achieve their goals.To facilitate the achievement of individual goals across the Key Result Areas(listed at Section 3.6), service providers need to deliver support arrangementsin a flexible way and ensure that resources are appropriately directed toimplement the Individual Plan.

The Plan is not an outcome in itself but a framework or a tool for building aprogram of services and activities to address a participants needs, values,goals and life stage.

These Plans should be informed by the principles outlined in Section 2.4.

http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0006/241683/ADHC_SMM_booklet_Nov2011.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0006/241683/ADHC_SMM_booklet_Nov2011.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0006/241683/ADHC_SMM_booklet_Nov2011.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0006/241683/ADHC_SMM_booklet_Nov2011.pdf


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involve other significant people, with the participants consent. Thismight include family members, carers, support people, case managers,advocates, other service providers and community workers associatedwith the participant;

explore alternative goals and options, if relevant; and ensure that the Plan adequately reflects the participants health,

motivation, current and anticipated support needs.

Service providers are also required to:

implement culturally competent and responsive practices in theindividual planning process;

use accessible formats, communication strategies, language servicesand methods that are requested and/or required by the participant,their family/carer/guardian/advocate/support people; and

document the planning process and ensure all relevant parties keep acopy of the final Plan as well as the minutes of relevant meetings.

As far as possible, the Individual Plan should be expressed in the participantsown words and without jargon.

3.6 Activities, Supports and ResultsThe Community Participation, Life Choices and Active Ageing Programs aimto provide participants with a range of purposeful activities that reflect their

needs, goals and life stage.Regardless of the model option selected by each participant, every IndividualPlan will include a broad mix of activities at a range of locations, dependenton the goals of the participant. Establishing links with the local community andthe participants chosen networks must be encouraged and supported at alltimes.

Service providers are expected to respond to the individual goals and needsof participants in the Program as outlined in their Individual Plans. Activitiesand supports should be in response to these individual goals and needs, andshould demonstrate flexibility and cultural relevance.

Participants with higher support needs may require more intensive assistancein order to participate in their chosen activities with satisfaction and comfort(e.g. personal care, assistance with meals and medication or behavioursupport).

Participants may access services and support outside their immediate areawhere their service is located, should these services and support be deemedmost appropriate.

Individual Plans need to focus on strategies, actions and activities that will

meet the following generic Key Result Areas (KRAs):1. Maintenance and development of life skills;



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2. Participation in ongoing learning and skills development, includingoptions for part-time work participation or volunteering;

3. Participation in the communityand involvement in communityactivities;

4. Maintenance of an active and healthy lifestyle;

5. Involvement in a diversity of purposeful activitiesincluding artistic,cultural, physical, recreational, therapeutic, social and other relatedactivities;

6. Equitable access to services for people with a disability who areAbor ig inaland/or from culturally and linguistically diversebackgrounds;

7. Development and maintenance of long term social and supportnetworks. This may be with people of similar and/or different lifestage/background/experiences/ values/interests. The aim is to enableparticipants to pursue a range of interests and networks so that theycan explore new opportunities and connections.

8. Progress in meeting individual short and long term goals, includinglonger term planning for the participant and their family/carer; and

9. Progress in transition pathways and planningwith reference toage/life stage, including future planning.

The KRAs will be used to:

guide the individual planning process and inform participants and theirfamilies/ support people about what is expected under the Programs;

evaluate Program effectiveness in supporting participants to achievetheir goals and participate in their communities.

Achievement across the KRAs will be different for each participant, consistentwith individual aspirations, interests, choice and needs.

With reference to a participants aspirations and choices, their Individual Planmay:

place more emphasis on one or more key result areas;

reflect that no specific activities occur under one or more key resultareas for a defined period due to the need to concentrate effort inanother area or areas; and

focus only on one or some of the above KRAs.

These types of decisions and their future impacts should also be documentedin the Plan.

To ensure the achievement of individual goals across all or relevant KRAs,service providers need to deliver support arrangements in a flexible way andensure that resources are directed to implement the Individual Plan.



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3.7 Attending TAFE, University or ACE CommunityColleges

Learning, skills development and further education are encouraged as

components of a persons Individual Plan. For young school leavers inCommunity Participation who are interested in pursuing studies in TAFE, it isimportant to note that there is a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)between ADHC and TAFE NSW. The MoU outlines how ADHC, TAFE NSWand ADHC funded service providers will work together to support youngpeople receiving services under Community Participation and Transition toWork so that they can participate in TAFE courses.

Further details are available from the ADHC website:

http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0020/237314/Access_to_TAFE_factsheet.pdf

3.8 Participants health and wellbeingHealth care and wellbeing are important as a number of health issues andillnesses may be more prevalent in people with a disability. These includeepilepsy, diabetes, respiratory illness, nutrition and swallowing, mental illness,mobility and falls, early onset dementia, constipation, incontinence and lifethreatening allergies.

Within the context of the Programs, health and wellbeing encompassesphysical, mental and social wellbeing. The goal of good health and wellbeingis the capacity to live a full and creative life and participate in ones localand/or chosen community/communities.

Individuals in the Community Participation, Life Choices and Active AgeingPrograms have a right to education and information about healthy lifestyleoptions and service providers should consider the health needs and wellbeingof each participant as part of the development and review of their IndividualPlan.

Responsibi lities of participants and their families/carers/guardian

The participant and, where relevant, their family/carer/guardian, is responsiblefor providing information to the service provider on his or her health careneeds and health management plans. If this information is not available, theparticipant should be referred to a service that can assist them to provide theinformation.

The participant has the right to choose from the same range of health servicesas other members of the community.

If the participant is living in an ADHC operated or funded accommodationsupport service, they will have a Health Care Plan which would have been

http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0020/237314/Access_to_TAFE_factsheet.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0020/237314/Access_to_TAFE_factsheet.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0020/237314/Access_to_TAFE_factsheet.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0020/237314/Access_to_TAFE_factsheet.pdf


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developed collaboratively with the participant, their family/carer/guardian,medical practitioner and service provider6.

Responsibi lities of the service provider

Service providers have a duty of care to ensure the safety of the people theysupport. This means that during the time a person is at an ADHC fundedservice, health conditions and risks should be managed in accordance withdocumented plans.

The service provider has a responsibility to:

have robust and publicly available health management policies andprotocols in place (these should be readily available upon request andwithout any questions asked);

hold emergency contact details and have protocols for responding tospecific critical health incidents;

create and maintain an up-to-date Health Profile7for each participant,in consultation with the participant and their family/carer/advocate orguardian. As appropriate, the Health Profile should reflect theindividuals Health Care Plan developed with their doctor;

review Health Profiles as part of the individual planning process;

document and maintain up-to-date health management strategies8(ifrequired). These could include, but are not limited to:

medication management epilepsy prevention

allergy or food intolerance management

nutrition and swallowing

respiratory management

use of mobility aids

implementation of occupational therapy or physiotherapy strategies

mood/symptom observation

memory aids

sun protection;

brief and train staff on the implementation of health managementstrategies and the management of health care risks;

6 Managing Client Health Policy and Procedures: for Use of Staff of DADHC Operated andFunded Accommodation Support and Respite Services (DADHC, November 2005).

7 A Health Profileis the individual information collected and held by the service provider toassist with the development of health management strategies.

8 Service providers develop and follow protocols to meet the individual health care needs of

participants during the hours of service provision. These strategies should be consistentwith the providers policies and consider the specific needs of Aboriginal people or peoplefrom culturally, linguistically and religiously diverse backgrounds.



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obtain informed consent for the health management strategies from theparticipant or their family/carer/advocate or guardian. This isparticularly important in the event of a change in a persons healthstatus that may require a new health management strategy;

advise the participant and their family/carer/guardian of the implicationswhere necessary consents for health management strategies could notbe obtained (e.g. some activities may not be available);

respond when a participant becomes ill while they are attending theservice;

respect privacy and the confidentiality of health related informationpertaining to the participant;

collect and store health related information in accordance with theHealth Records and Information Privacy Act 2002;

respect the health care choices made by the participant and theirfamily/carer/ guardian within their duty of care (e.g. use of alternative,complementary or preferred therapies);

support each participant to make their own informed decisions andexercise choices in relation to healthy lifestyles (e.g. if a participant isinterested in improving physical fitness, healthy eating, reducing orstopping smoking); and

notify ADHC within fourteen days should a participant leave theCommunity Participation/Life Choices/Active Ageing Program for healthreasons (see Section 3.13 on Exits and Transfers).

Service providers are not responsible for a participants overall health orhealth care. For example, it is not the providers role to ensure that theparticipant visits their doctor/s or dentist regularly, or to diagnose illnesses orcreate treatment plans.

Providers do not need to employ health professionals. Unless they employstaff with appropriate specialist expertise and training, service providersshould not provide professional or expert medical assistance.

Providers cannot provide legal consent to proposed medical treatment(medication or medical procedure) on behalf of a participant.

Included below is information on procedures to be followed should aparticipant become critically ill at the service.

If a person becomes cri tically ill at the service

In the event that a participant becomes critically ill while at the service, therole of the service provider is to:

hold emergency contact details and have protocols for responding tospecific critical health incidents;



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be aware of the general health status of each participant and be alert tochanges in their behaviour or demeanor that may indicate the person isfeeling unwell;

provide first aid to a person and immediately notify health services (e.g.

doctor or ambulance); and implement individual protocols for responding to specific critical health

incidents.

In addition, service providers should treat as a critical incident any evidence ofabuse or alleged abuse. The provider must follow established policy andprocedures for Abuse and Neglect9This would include ensuring theparticipant is safe from further harm, and notifying the line manager, healthservices and Police (e.g. sexual assault or non-accidental injury).

Appropriate access to part ic ipants health in formation

Effective communication with the participant, and where agreed to, theirfamily/carer/ guardian or accommodation provider, is essential for the serviceprovider to be aware of a participants health issues while they are in theCommunity Participation/Life Choices/ Active Ageing Program.

The service provider should encourage the participant, and where agreed toby the individual, their family/carer/guardian or other service providers andhealth professionals, to provide up-to-date and timely information about theirhealth care needs.

This may be achieved by the service provider:

asking the participant, as part of the individual planning process toidentify their health goals and any current and past health matters thatneed to be considered to provide a safe service;

balancing the right of a participant not to provide health relatedinformation with duty of care to the participant, other participants in theProgram, service staff and the community;

advising the participant how health related issues may impact on theirprogram and the type of activities they can undertake;

recording if a participant has been unwell or has visited a healthprofessional while they are attending their ADHC funded service;

raising any changes in a participants health status with thefamily/carer/advocate, guardian or accommodation service, whereagreed to by the individual;

accompanying the participant on a visit to a health professional andensuring that instructions about taking medication or treatment arerecorded. If the participant is not able to consent to a proposedmedical treatment, the provider should ensure that the personresponsible is informed about the proposed medical treatment;

9 Abuse and Neglect, Policy and Procedures (ADHC, September 2010)



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actively encouraging the participant to allow service providers to passon existing Health Profile and Health Management Strategies to thenew Community Participation/Life Choices/Active Ageing providerwhere the person is transferring; and

assisting a participant who is unable to provide health information toaccess appropriate health and advocacy services.

Supporting healthy l ifestyles

All participants in ADHC funded learning and skills programs should beencouraged to establish clear health goals as part of their Individual Plans.These might include improving their physical fitness, health, diet, reducing orstopping smoking.

Where health goals are stated, service providers should support theparticipant to achieve these goals through the Programs activities andsupport options. This is achieved by:

ensuring that overall planning and services are founded on healthylifestyle choices;

supporting participants to achieve the health goals that are included intheir Individual Plan. This may include assisting a person to accesshealth services (e.g. a General Practitioner) independently;

supporting cultural obligations and aspirations within the context of ahealthy lifestyle; and

providing healthy lifestyle advice and support as a part of day-to-dayservice provision.

Reviewing Health Management Strategies and Health Profiles

Service providers should review each Health Profile and Health ManagementStrategy on an annual basis or as needs change. These reviews shouldinclude consideration of:

the effectiveness of the Health Management Strategies;

results of community support or accommodation service reviews ofHealth Care Plans;

feedback from the participant and/or their family/carer/guardian; and

up-to-date reports from clinical professionals.



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3.9 Support HoursADHC funded service providers are contracted to provide a specified numberof service hours per week to each participant for not less than 48 weeks of theyear10.

People in Life Choices and Active Ageing should access 18 hours of serviceper week. People in Community Participation with moderate and high supportneeds should access 24 hours of support each week, and people inCommunity Participation with very high and exceptional support needs shouldaccess 30 hours of support.

Flexibility regarding support hours may be necessary in some instances, forexample to enable Active Ageing participants to make choices according totheir life stage, or allow Community Participation clients to participate in aparticular activity. However, this should be negotiated between participants,

service providers and ADHC on a case-by-case basis, and should be linked tothe persons Individual Plan. The actual number and mix of hours will dependon the level of support required and the type of activities the person with adisability chooses to do.

Participants and their service providers may choose to include activitiesoutside of working hours. The mix of days and hours will need to beconsistent with the goals and activities in a participants Individual Plan as wellas their model option.

Service providers are also entitled to have up to five service participant free

days per year. These participant free days can be used for service planningand staff development and as such may be included as part of the 48 weeks.

A service provider should give participants, their families, carers and/orguardians at least four (4) weeks notice of closures. Information should beprovided to participants and other relevant people about the purpose of theclosure.

Averaging or banking hours

In order to provide flexibility for participants and their support people, hoursmay be banked or averaged over short periods. Banking or averaging hoursmeans that a participant can defer using their hours of support in a givenperiod and use them later according to their needs.

The arrangements for banking of hours should be mutually agreed to betweenthe participant, their support people and the service provider.

10 In remote areas where the Award provides for more than four weeks of annual leave each

year, the number of weeks of service each year is adjusted to reflect this. For example, ifsix weeks of annual leave are included in the Award, services operate for 46 weeks eachyear.



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Reasons for banking hours may include travel or planned medical procedures.Hours can not be banked where the participant is absent due to illness and/orother unplanned medical reasons.

Service providers will not always be able to offer banking or averaging ofhours given their organisational needs but should work with participants toensure that service arrangements are as flexible as possible. Serviceproviders should also have a clear policy stating whether banking oraveraging of hours is available and, where available, how hours may bebanked or averaged and the amount of notice required by the service to planfor the arrangements.

Arrangements for averaging or banking hours are negotiated between theparticipant, their service provider and ADHC according to the following:

it is the choice of the participant to average or bank hours over a period

where this option is available at their service provider;

as far as possible any adjustment of hours should be agreed inadvance, according to the service providers policy on whether hoursmay be banked; and

any accrued banked hours can only be used in the current financialyear, they cannot be carried over to the following financial year.

Support inclusions

The contracted support hours may include:

support and activities directly delivered to participants by staff orcontractors of the service provider either individually or in a smallgroup;

access to activities in the community that are facilitated or organised bythe service provider. This might involve the provider introducing theparticipant to a new network or providing some form of continuingsupport (e.g. regular monitoring in person or by telephone, providingadvice, or on-call/drop in support); and

time spent planning with and for a participant and their

family/carer/support people.

Support exclusions

Unless approved by ADHC, the contracted support hours for participants inthe Community Participation, Life Choices and Active Ageing Programsexclude:

planning that does not directly involve the participant and theirfamily/support people; and

except in limited circumstances, time spent commuting to and from theservice at the beginning or end of the day.



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3.10 Equipment and ModificationsParticipants in the Community Participation, Life Choices and Active Ageing

programs have access to the Equipment and Modifications Fund which maybe used for minor building modifications and assistive equipment andtechnology. Access to the Equipment and Modifications Fund is through asubmission process. The Equipment and Modifications Fund Guidelines haverecently been revised and can be found on the ADHC website:http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0011/228296/Equipment_and_Modifications_Fund_Guidelines.pdf.

3.11 Transport and FeesAs far as possible, participants should explore mainstream transport optionsto commute to and from home and their chosen activities and their Programshould support this with the development of skills to travel independently.

Mainstream transport options include:

private vehicle;

public transport including subsidised taxis; or

any excess capacity available from community transport servicesfunded by other government agencies. This may only be feasible in

some localities.Where a participant is eligible, taxi subsidies and the Mobility Allowance canassist with the cost of some mainstream transport options.

Service providers may provide transport at the beginning and end of the dayfor a fee where mainstream options are not available.

Where a participant uses transport provided by a service provider, they canbe asked to contribute the following towards the cost of that transport:

their Mobility Allowance in proportion to the number of days that theyaccess Community Participation/Life Choices/Active Ageing (e.g. if a

person uses transport provided by the service three days a week, theservice provider can charge 60% of the Mobility Allowance paid to theparticipant); and

an affordable personal contribution based on cost recovery11.

A limited number of Program hours may be used to provide transport wherethere are no other transport options but this needs to be negotiated withADHC on a case-by-case basis.

11 Service providers need to be able to demonstrate the basis of fees charged to supportpeople on low incomes.

http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0011/228296/Equipment_and_Modifications_Fund_Guidelines.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0011/228296/Equipment_and_Modifications_Fund_Guidelines.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0011/228296/Equipment_and_Modifications_Fund_Guidelines.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0011/228296/Equipment_and_Modifications_Fund_Guidelines.pdf


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In some circumstances, ADHC may provide additional assistance as acontribution towards transport costs. This additional assistance will beavailable where all of the following apply:

the participant lives in a remote rural area12, OR is faced with othercircumstances that act as a barrier to service access;

the participant is required to travel more than one hour each day(return) to access their service;

there are no other appropriate services closer to the participants homeor the workplace of a family member;

no other transport options are available; and

the Mobility Allowance, taxi vouchers and an affordable level ofpersonal contribution are insufficient to cover the transport costs.

In these circumstances ADHC will provide:

up to $1,000 per year per participant, or up to $3000 for a three yearfixed term per participant. The funds are paid to the service providertowards the cost of transport after allowing for the contribution of aproportion of the Mobility Allowance and an affordable personalcontribution for that participant. The service provider must demonstratea partnership approach with other services (this may involve poolingfunds) or mainstream transport providers to qualify for the $3,000 threeyear fixed term payment; OR

funding towards the purchase or modification of a vehicle throughnegotiation with the relevant ADHC region.

Service providers need to write to the relevant ADHC Region to request thetransport assistance or funding towards the purchase or modification of avehicle. Eligibility for this assistance and the level of any funding provided willbe determined by the ADHC Regional Director on a case-by-case basis.

Do participants pay any fees?

Service providers may charge a daily fee to participants in ADHC fundedlearning and skills development programs as a contribution towards the cost

of activities and services provided. Daily fees should be affordable andapplied equitably.

The following policy applies to daily fees:

service providers should have a clear policy on fees and communicatethis policy to participants and their families when they are choosing aservice;

daily fees charged by service providers must be consistent with thispolicy;

the actual fee amount should be minimal;

12 A remote rural area is an area classified as moderately accessible, remote or veryremote on the Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia.

http://minimal/http://minimal/


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no person may be excluded from a service or unduly questioned due totheir inability to pay a daily fee;

specific fees should not be charged for services and supports thatproviders should offer and which are consistent with the intent and

principles of the Community Participation/Life Choices and ActiveAgeing Programs. These include language and communicationservices required and/or requested by participants and/or theirfamilies/support people;

wherever possible, fees should only be charged on a cost recoverybasis, such as for accessing public facilities and venues;

a person may be required to contribute out of pocket expenses for oneoff events (e.g. going out for a meal, tickets to particular events),however, service providers must ensure that the amount is no morethan the cost price plus any concessions available to the person and

the payment is negotiated with the person so that they can make aninformed decision, including not to participate in the event; and

where a person self manages their ADHC funding, a proportion of thefunding needs to be allocated to the service provider for administration more details available from the ADHC website:http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0006/241683/ADHC_SMM_booklet_Nov2011.pdf

3.12 Changing Providers or Moving Interstate

Consistent with the principles of ADHC funded learning and skillsdevelopment programs, particularly flexibility and choice, participants canchange their model options and providers as their goals, needs andcircumstances change. To allow people to move easily from one provider toanother, funding for each individual is portable.

Portable fundingmeans that if a person transfers to another service providerwithin New South Wales, ADHC will ensure that the funding for that individualtransfers with them to the new provider.

Before a participant decides to make any changes, they are encouraged to:

discuss their priorities and/or concerns with their current serviceprovider and other relevant individuals. Where this is not appropriate,they may contact the relevant ADHC regional office for assistanceand/or advice;

try and resolve issues through the service providers grievancehandling and complaints resolution processes, if relevant;

read the Choosing a Service Provider booklets on the ADHC websitewhich list the organisations approved (as well as their service outlets)to provide the Community Participation/Life Choices and Active AgeingPrograms across New South Wales

www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/individuals/support/learning_new_skills/for_adults

http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0006/241683/ADHC_SMM_booklet_Nov2011.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0006/241683/ADHC_SMM_booklet_Nov2011.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/individuals/support/learning_new_skills/for_adulthttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/individuals/support/learning_new_skills/for_adulthttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/individuals/support/learning_new_skills/for_adulthttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/individuals/support/learning_new_skills/for_adulthttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0006/241683/ADHC_SMM_booklet_Nov2011.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0006/241683/ADHC_SMM_booklet_Nov2011.pdf


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www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/individuals/support/learning_new_skills/for_school_leavers;

find an appropriate alternative service provider through discussionswith them and with support from other relevant individuals and

organisations; and inform their existing service provider of their decision and provide them

with a fortnights notice before changing to the new service provider.

Service providers need to encourage and be responsive to feedback fromparticipants and their support people as a means of improving the satisfactionof participants attending their service. If after this the participant still wants tomove to another service provider, their existing provider should facilitate andsupport them in this process, which will also include the steps outlined belowin Section 3.13 on Exits and Transfers.

In a small number of cases, a participant may need to seek an alternativeservice providerto the one selected. This may arise because:

1. their preferred service provider has not attracted a sufficient number ofparticipants to operate the participants preferred model option;

2. their preferred service provider has reached its maximum capacity;

3. the service provider (with cause), and in consultation with ADHC, is notable to meet the support needs, or provide the type of programmingoptions, required by the individual on an ongoing basis, and/or anotherlocal provider is better able to meet the individuals needs.

The National Interstate Portability Protocol (NIPP) makes provisions forpeople with a disability intending to move interstate:

where people with disabilities seek to move interstate, States andTerritories agree to facilitate access into their service system throughtransparent demand management processes based on relative priorityof need.

state and Territories also agree to allow individuals to register theirdemand for service prior to any planned transfer. This approach gives

people with disabilities the security of staying in the State of origin untilservices become available to them in the new location.

people with disabilities can apply to their State of origin to consider thetransfer of funds for a period of twelve months. If approved, the State oforigin will quarantine these funds for twelve months from the time oftransfer. The twelve month quarantine period gives the individual theoption of returning to their State of origin within that period, without lossof funding.

each State and Territory will identify a central coordination/contactpoint to undertake the following responsibilities:

provision of a clear point of contact for participants, serviceproviders and other States;



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provision of relevant information for people considering movinginterstate;

coordination of transfer arrangements, including the settlement ofany funding arrangements, transfer of equipment and ensuring

access to services based on need; and maintenance of a database on transfers into and out of their State

or Territory.

portability can only be arranged between State and Territorygovernments, not between non-government agencies.

all NIPP enquiries can be directed to [email protected] 1800 761 030.

3.13 Exits and TransfersTo assist with efficiency and continuity of services, service providers arerequired to comply with ADHC administrative processes related to exits andtransfers. For example,

a Transfer / Exit Form needs to be completed when a participant inthe Life Choices or Active Ageing program intends to:

exit from the Program;

transfer between Programs;

transfer between model options; and/or

transfer between service providers.The Transfer /Exit Form is available at:http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0003/228711/ExitTransferForm.pdf

For the participants in the Community Participation program:

a Service Provider Registration Form needs to be completedfor the new service when a participant transfers betweenservice providers. The Service Provider Registration Form isavailable at:http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0010/228709/20

12_CP_Registration_form.pdf Participant transfers, exits and periods of leave within each

quarter must also be reported by service providers through theCommunity Participation quarterly reporting process (seesection 7.1.1 Quarterly payments).

Where a participant changes providers, both the current and prospectiveservice providers must notify ADHC of the change to enable the transfer offunding.

Service providers must have clear policies and procedures in place relating to

situations where a participant is to be exited, as they can no longer besupported in the service. These policies and procedures need to be made

mailto:[email protected]://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0003/228711/ExitTransferForm.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0003/228711/ExitTransferForm.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0003/228711/ExitTransferForm.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0010/228709/2012_CP_Registration_form.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0010/228709/2012_CP_Registration_form.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0010/228709/2012_CP_Registration_form.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0010/228709/2012_CP_Registration_form.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0010/228709/2012_CP_Registration_form.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0003/228711/ExitTransferForm.pdfhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/file/0003/228711/ExitTransferForm.pdfmailto:[email protected]


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clear to participants upon entry, and include appropriate steps that arerequired to be taken by the provider to maintain the placement before thedecision to exit is reached.

3.14 Transition from one program to anotherADHC is committed to providing a continuum of flexible and appropriatesupport options for people transitioning from one program to another e.g.Community Participation into Transition to Work or from Life Choices intoActive Ageing and then to older age and retirement.

Service providers, together with ADHC staff, should ensure that eachindividual has adequate future planning, particularly when they reach theupper age range of the Programs.

Moving between Community Participation and Transition to Work

Community

ParticipationtoTransition to Work

It is possible for a young person to move fromCommunity Participationto Transition to Work, a twoyear program for school leavers with employmentrelated goals. The ADHC Regional Director isresponsible for approving a move if the young person islikely to find employment within two years.

Transition to Work

back toCommunityParticipation

If a young person transfers from CommunityParticipationto Transition to Workand then finds thatTransition to Workdoes not meet their needs they canreturn to Community Participation:

Automatically if it is within twelve months oftransferring to Transition to Work; or

After twelve months, if they are assessed by theregion as not likely to be work ready within theirremaining period of placement in Transition toWork13.

Where a person returns to Community Participation,

their funding band allocation will be determined on thebasis of their initial support needs assessment.Depending upon the length of time the person was inTransition to Work, it may be necessary to conduct anew Community Participationassessment. This isdecided on a case-by-case basis by the ADHC RegionalOffice.

Transition to Workto Community

A person who initially enters Transition to Workbut thenfinds the program does not meet their needs maytransfer to Community Participationwith the approval of

13Transition to Workprovides support services for a time limited period of two years.



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Participation the ADHC Regional Director.

Trialling Transitionto Work

If a young person in Community Participationwishes totrial the Transition to WorkProgram on a part time

basis, this can be arranged while still retaining theirCommunity Participationplacement. For an agreedperiod of time, ADHC will pro rata the CP and TTWfunding depending on the mix of days in each program.Service providers or participants should contact theirregional ADHC office to discuss their options.

Life Choices to Active Ageing

Service providers are expected to alert ADHC regional staff when a Life

Choices participant requires services more appropriate to those delivered forolder adults in the Active Ageing program, and/or is showing signs of earlyonset ageing14, and when an Active Ageing participant is approaching 65.This also applies to Aboriginal participants with early onset ageing.

The service provider is required to work with ADHC staff, in consultation withthe participant, their family/carer/guardian/support people, to undertake anassessment of the participants needs and circumstances and identifyappropriate pathways. The assessment will determine whether they remain intheir current program, be supported to move to Active Ageing if they are inLife Choices or other appropriate support options if they are exiting from the

Programs.

Active Ageing participants should be able to exercise greater flexibility andchoice to reflect priorities associated with their life stage, for example, in termsof support hours and blending model options. They can remain with theirexisting service provider until an alternative program (or other relevantoptions), appropriate to their needs and circumstances, is identified and atransition is arranged in consultation with the participant and their supportpeople.

From 1 July 2011, the Commonwealth Government assumed funding

responsibility for specialist disability services delivered under the NationalDisability Agreement15for people aged 65 years and over (50 years and overfor Indigenous Australians).

14Specific sub-groups of people with lifelong disability, such as people with Down syndrome,

cerebral palsy or post polio syndrome, who may experience premature signs of ageing,have an increased risk of dementia, Alzheimers disease or experience marked physicaldecline as early as their 40s (Balandin & Morgan, 1997: Moss & Patel, 1997: Zigman,

1997)15 http://www.coag.gov.au/coag_meeting_outcomes/2008-11-

29/docs/20081129_national_disability_agreement_factsheet.pdf



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They will also assume funding and program responsibility for basic communitycare services, including aged care, for people 65 years and over (50 yearsand over for Indigenous Australians)16.

People in the Active Ageing Program who turn 65 may transition in toappropriate Commonwealth funded services or their program may continue,funded by the Commonwealth Government.

3.15 Community Participation and EmploymentPart time or casual employment while attending the Community Participationprogram is encouraged. ADHC will support young people in the CommunityParticipation program to trial work options, gain paid employment and if thatemployment is ongoing and sustainable, Community Participation funding will

be reduced on a pro rata basis.

Pro rata arrangements can be discussed with the ADHC regional Post SchoolProgram Coordinator, in liaison with the Life Skills and Employment unit inADHC Central Office.

16Council of Australian Governments (COAG) National Health and Hospitals NetworkAgreementApril 2010



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4 Funding, monitoring and reporting

Karim Community Participation

4.1 Brokering servicesADHC funded organisations have sole responsibility for providing quality

services, consistent with these guidelines. ADHC also recognises that insome instances brokerage or sub-contracting may present furtheropportunities to meet participant expectations, needs and goals. Hence,service providers may broker or sub-contract specific or additional servicesto:

enable participants to purchase services and activities relevant to theirgoals, model options and Individual Plans; and

purchase services from other profit or not-for-profit organisations tofully meet the needs or expectations of participants.

However, an entire Program cannot be sub-contracted, except in exceptionalcircumstances such as due to rural and remote locations and with theapproval of the Regional Director.

The types of services which can be sub-contracted need to supportachievement of the Key Result Areas outlined in Section 3.6 and be otherwiseconsistent with these guidelines.

Advice and assistance regarding the brokering of services may be soughtfrom ADHC regional staff.

4.2 Aboriginal Specific ServicesAll ADHC funded organisations are required to demonstrate their capacity todeliver responsive services for Aboriginal people. ADHC recognises that thefunded sector needs to develop greater capacity in this area. For this reason,some organisations are funded to provide services specifically or primarily forAboriginal people.

In the Community Participation/Life Choices and Active Ageing Programs, anAboriginal specific service can be managed by an Aboriginal organisation, a

consortium involving at least one Aboriginal organisation or a non-Aboriginalgeneralist organisation with demonstrated capacity to provide responsive



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service for Aboriginal people. Where applicable, partners in the consortiumand generalist organisations need to implement effective workingrelationships with Aboriginal community stakeholders in decision-making.

Services need to:

be customised to reflect the needs, values and priorities of localAboriginal communities;

involve Aboriginal participants, their families/carers/advocates andcommunities in service planning;

ensure staff are culturally responsive;

operate in ways that meet whole of life needs of Aboriginal participants;

be able to address the needs of communities that may reside across awide geographic area through outreach services or services utilisingmobile or community-based supports;

utilise flexible ways of working and establish partnerships, includingsub-contracting arrangements with other service providers whenrequired; and

meet the principles and requirements outlined in these guidelines.

Note: Some Aboriginal people may choose not to use an Aboriginal managed

service due to their personal circumstances or family associations.

4.3 CALD (Culturally and Linguistically Diverse) SpecificServices

All ADHC funded organisations are required to demonstrate their capacity todeliver responsive services for people of culturally and linguistically diverse(CALD) backgrounds. ADHC recognises that the funded sector needs todevelop greater capacity in this area. For this reason, some organisations arefunded to provide services specifically or primarily for people of culturally andlinguistically diverse backgrounds.

In the Community Participation/Life Choices and Active Ageing Programs, aCALD specific service will deliver services to one or more communities of

non-English speaking backgrounds. This may also include communities whoidentify with a specific religion or religious practice, culture or cultural practice.

CALD specific services for people with a disability can be managed by one ormore organisations representing culturally, linguistically and/or religiouslyspecific or diverse communities. Where applicable, partners in the consortiumwill need to implement effective working relationships by supporting theinvolvement of smaller CALD, multicultural or ethno-specific communitypartners in decision-making.

Services need to:

involve participants of non-English speaking backgrounds, theirfamilies/carers/advocates and communities in service planning;



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ensure staff are culturally responsive;

operate in ways that meet the needs of participants from culturally,linguistically and religiously diverse backgrounds;

be able to address the needs of communities that may reside across awide geographic area through outreach services or services utilisingmobile or community-based supports;

utilise flexible ways of working and establish partnerships, includingsub-contracting arrangements with other service providers whenrequired; and

meet the principles and requirements outlined in these guidelines.

Note: Some people of non-English speaking backgrounds may choose not to

use a multicultural/ethno-specific/NESB service due to their personal

circumstances or family associations.

4.4 Funding exclusionsCommunity Participation/Life Choices/Active Ageing Program funding shouldnot be used to provide:

services which already have another funding source (e.g. respite,domestic help);

services which are typically the responsibility of the participant and/ortheir family/carer/guardian/support people (e.g. rent, medication,

personal items); services for people other than the intended participant. Family

members/support people can attend activities with the participantwhere the provider and participant both agree;

transport to and from the service, except in circumstances outlined inSection 3.11 on Transport and Fees;

income support.

4.5 Funding agreementsADHC is responsible for managing all aspects of the Programs based on astandardised Funding Agreement and other documented purchasing policiesand practices.

The ADHC Funding Agreement is designed to:

fairly and equitably represent the rights of service providers and ADHC;

clearly set down the responsibilities of ADHC and service providers;

be flexible and equally applicable to all service providers regardless oftheir activities or funding levels;

be easily understood.



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The Agreement and associated Schedules are the legally binding agreementbetween ADHC and funded service providers. The Agreement describes theterms and conditions under which ADHC provides funding for deliveringservices to older people, people with a disability and their carers. It describes

the services to be delivered with that funding. By signing the Agreement theservice provider agrees to provide the services in accordance with the termsand conditions.

Service providers must comply with the Funding Agreement (which includesthe Schedules), relevant policies, standards and legislation. Furtherinformation can be found in the Funding Agreement Guide at this link:http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/sp/funding_and_grants/funding_agreement

4.6 Funding accountabilityService providers are required to meet all performance and fundingaccountabilities prescribed in the Funding Agreement and the Schedules. Thisincludes an annual acquittal procedure that is aligned with the requirements ofthe organisations regulatory requirements.

4.7 Service monitoringThe Community Participation/Life Choices and Active Ageing Programs are

monitored via ADHCs service quality and risk identification and monitoringapproach.

The Funding Agreement and associated conditions of funding require NGOBoards of Management to ensure that their organisations are able to deliverthe services as specified, and meet reporting and quality requirements.

ADHCs risk monitoring approach focuses on the risks that may impact on theachievement of client outcomes and strives to work with organisations toreduce and minimise these risks. ADHC is moving away from a one size fitsall approach to monitoring to a tailored approach for each organisation, takinginto account the level of perceived risk and the appropriate level of response

required to manage these.

ADHCs risk monitoring approach will source service provider information frommultiple sources including:

MDS performance information;

annual compliance return; and

acquittal financial reporting.

A variety of monitoring responses will be employed relative to the level of riskassessed. These may range from correspondence and discussions to on-site

visits and audits. The approach will be developed collaboratively between theservice provider and regional contract manager.

http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/sp/funding_and_grants/funding_agreementhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/sp/funding_and_grants/funding_agreementhttp://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/sp/funding_and_grants/funding_agreement


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All data collection required under the Community Participation/Life Choicesand Active Ageing Programs is aligned with standard ADHC reporting andmonitoring requirements which apply to all service providers funded by ADHC.In addition, there may be program specific monitoring arrangements. For

example, Community Participation quarterly payments to service providers iscontingent on the confirmation of the number of young people receivingservices, quarterly reports and calculations based on individual funding levels.Information on more detailed funding arrangements for CommunityParticipation providers is at Appendix A.

Continued eligibility for funding during the term of the Funding Agreement,and renewal of funding agreements on their expiry, will be subject to serviceproviders satisfactorily meeting risk management performance and qualityrequirements.

4.8 Service QualityADHC funded service providers are required to comply with the NSWDisability Service Standards (standards) and deliver real outcomes for peoplewith disability. In order to assist the sector with implementing the standards,ADHC developed a Standards in Action manual(http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/sp/quality/standards_in_action) as a practicalguide with practice examples. As all disability service providers are expectedto deliver high quality services which focus on meeting client outcomes and

are provided by well governed organisations, ADHC has developed a qualityframework. The application of the framework will aim to ensure thatparticipants receive high quality services that deliver positive outcomes andservice providers have adequate systems in place to enable this to occur. Theframework separates quality from compliance, however information aboutservice quality will inform ADHCs risk based approach to mo

cp_lc_aa_program_guidelines.pdf

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