Your Life Your Choice• Your Life Your Choice was launched by the Premier and

Minister for Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services in September 2012• YLYC enables people with disability and their families to

have more choice and control over their disability supports and services• YLYC introduces self-direction to Queensland• YLYC helps people with disability and their families get

ready for more choice and control under the NDIS • The resources and the peer support initiatives are

funded by the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services

Resourcing Your Life Your Choice

Resourcing Your Life Your Choice

‘Your Life Your Choice’ is a self-directed approach that enables people with disability and their families in Queensland to have

greater choice and control over the disability services they receive.  

Resourcing Your Life Your Choice

Your Life Your Choice has the following models:1. Host Providers. The department makes payment to a non-government service

provider who works with the person in collaboration with their family and/or support network assisting them to design and purchase their supports. The Host Provider reports to the department.

2. Direct Payment. The department makes payment directly into an account established by the person or representative who manages their funding. The person or their representative chooses and purchases their own services and supports and then reports directly to the department on their expenditure and progress.

For more information visit the Your Life Your Choice website www.communities.qld.gov.au/disability/key-projects/your-life-your-choice

Topic Areas – What is self-direction

Topic Areas - Planning

Topic Areas – Engaging your own staff

Topic Areas – Purchasing and Managing Supports & Services

Currently under developmentSample sub-topic articles:• Preparing for self-direction: what do you need to think

about• Levels of choice and control• Receiving funds with Direct Payments• Receiving funds via a Host Provider• Purchasing supports and services• Managing payments and reporting• Governing your supports and services

We are still looking for Suggestions

Resourcing Your Life Your Choice

The resources developed are available on the Sector Readiness and Workforce

Capacity Clearinghouse.  

The web address is http

://communitydoor.org.au/sector-readiness/resources

Pathways to Leadership

A peer support organisation committed to people with a disability and their families leading self directed lives, building partnerships

enhancing choice and control.

Peer Support

The Your Life Your Choice Peer Support Initiative Information and discussion sessions

aim to provide

People with disability, families, carers and enduring friends the opportunity to come together with their peers to explore

self-directed support under Your Life Your Choice

Peer Support

• 35 discussion sessions across Queensland

• Already self-directing their supports - familiar with the process, would like to share stories, ideas, information, what has and has not worked for them.• Just beginning their journey in self-directing their supports – new to

the concept, finding their way.

• Considering self directing their supports – want more information.

Peer Support

How can people take part?

People who have individualised recurrent funding from Disability Services receive invitations from their local regional office

Facilitators

The discussion sessions are facilitated by the Pathways to Leadership Team who are self-directing under Your Life Your Choice and who have been part of peer networks for many years

Facilitators share their own personal stories.

Peer Support

Sessions commenced in February 2014, and completed in August 2014.

Twenty Five sessions have already been facilitated across all of the seven regions and there are two further sessions to be held in:• Brisbane• Far North Queensland• North Coast • South East and• South West regions

Peer Support

Discussion Sessions:• Information about Self Directing, YLYC and the NDIS• Opportunities to exchange information, share stories and hear from

people who are already self-directing.• Sharing what is and is not working for people and the benefits of

having more choice and control.• ask questions and gain clarity about the process from the people who

are already doing it

Peer Support

Discussion Sessions• Explore how others have moved to Your Life Your Choice• Provide opportunities to hear from people who are self directing • Share experiences• Establish networks for ongoing support and information• Building formal and informal networks, with participants sharing how

they have used these for community inclusion and contribution.• Person Centred Planning as a resource for self-direction.

Peer Support

One of the most useful ways to save time and energy and not re-invent the wheel is to network with peers, which provide an opportunity to:• Explore the advantages of peer support networks and what these may

look like in individual communities.• share information on self-direction strategies and helpful local

community approaches• ask questions, receive answers, be referral points for queries and gain

support if and when needed.• Some of our life experiences and cultures may be different however

our peers can still have important information and ideas to share.

Peer Support

So Far:• Individual communities have started their own networking• People have offered to buddy/mentor others as they begin their

journey.• Groups have begun to network with each other across the state.• Some facebook groups have been established• Some people are Skyping with others across the state• Regional offices are relationship building, assisting with local

information and resources where requested.

Further information

Your Life Your Choice:www.communities.qld.gov.au/disability/key-projects/your-life-your-choice

Contact local Disability Services regional office to find out about funding and YLYCPhone 13 QGOV (13 7468)

Sector Readiness and Workforce Capacity Initiative www.communitydoor.org.au/SectorReadiness

The National Disability Insurance Agency:www.ndis.gov.au Phone 1800 800 110