A Lifetime of Support – Moving Beyond Traditional Rehabilitation and Disability Responses
Objective
The Transport Accident Commission delivers an equitable personal injury compensation scheme to Victorians. The scheme also provides lifelong, needs-based, no-fault benefits for medical, rehabilitation and disability services.
Of the more than 40,000 claims under management by the TAC at any one time, less than 1000 people require disability support to live their day-to-day lives. Approximately two thirds of these 1,000 people have a moderate or severe acquired brain injury.
Method
In 2002 the TAC launched their Lifetime Support initiative to enable clients to move beyond traditional rehabilitation and disability responses, to models that supported their re-building their lives and participating in the life of the community. At the same time the TAC had to ensure sustained scheme viability.
The Lifetime Support model was built around person-centred planning and incorporated community focussed discharge, the creation of more flexible community based support options, a greater focus on client outcomes and a new approach to client communications.
Results
Results to date indicate that it is possible to deliver a person-centred approach, consistent with best practice in community inclusion and participation, while delivering a financially sustainable scheme.
Conclusions
An approach with people with an ABI that places people at the centre of their own lives and focuses on valued life roles, rather than services and funding, is capable of delivering viable outcomes.