Rock-climbing, Kayaking and Drama: A Place not a Placement
Objective
The Victorian State Disability Plan, in line with international developments, articulates an ambitious vision for an inclusive community where diversity is embraced and celebrated.
This paper showcases an exciting and innovative new model, which helps to realise the goals of the State Plan by supporting clients with an Acquired Brain Injury to pursue social and leisure activities of their choice, and be included as respected citizens of their local community.
Method
The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) in partnership with our clients, the Victorian Department of Human Services (DHS), disability service providers, and community based recreation and leisure providers formalised a new approach to supporting people with Acquired Brain Injury which provides opportunities for people to participate in local community based recreation and leisure opportunities, meet people, establish friendships, develop new skills and have fun.
The model, referred to as ‘Supported Leisure Options’(SLO), has been introduced across metropolitan Melbourne, and is now being established in rural Victoria.
The key components of the model include:
• Identifying people with similar interests.
• Sourcing appropriate supports to enable people to pursue their interests, as members of mainstream clubs and organisations.
• Pooling of available funding resources (compensable and non-compensable).
• A focus on community capacity building and service systems change.
Results
The paper will:
• Demonstrate the positive outcomes that have been achieved to date though a socially oriented and person-centred approach to service planning and delivery.
• Outline the key strategies for developing and delivering a successful program of Supported Leisure Options.
• Highlight the shift in support provision from ‘clients’ as passive recipients of services, to supporting people as active citizens in their community.
Conclusions
The TAC is proud to be associated with the development of this exciting new approach to supporting community inclusion of people with disabilities. This achievement is the result of a unified vision, shared commitment and genuine partnerships by many stakeholders.