Disability Services Commission
Sector Development Plan – Disability Services
CONCEPT PAPER
Introduction
This is a concept paper. Its purpose is to describe the benefits and structure of a
Disability Services ‘Sector Development Plan’. It is an initial scoping of a plan and is
circulated for the purpose of promoting comment and providing an opportunity to
validate the concept of a plan and to shape its contents. We look forward to your
consideration of the concept of a ‘Sector Development Plan’.
Background
During the past twenty years the Western Australian disability services system has
undergone significant change, growth and development. The system has become more
diverse and responsive to the support requirements of people with disabilities, families
and carers. The progressive implementation of individualised funding and, more
recently, the introduction of self directed service models have required disability sector
organisations to focus more on the individual needs of the people using their services.
Currently, over 115 disability service organisations are funded by the Disability Services
Commission to provide a wide range of services for people with disabilities, families and
carers. The Australian Government also provides funding for a range of disability
services. Other supports and services are provided by mainstream State Government
agencies and by community-based organisations.
The Disability Services Commission has used a range of data and information sources
to guide the growth and development of the sector during the past two decades. These
have included (1) population data from a variety of sources, (2) data on un-met demand
from the Commission’s Combined Application Process (CAP) and other sources, (3)
information provided by disability sector organisations, (4) feedback on unmet demand
via the Local Area Coordination network, and (5) direct input from people with
disabilities, families and carers.
These information and data sources have tended to be used to guide decision making
for the expansion of programs, the allocation of growth funding and the pre-qualification
of new service provider organisations. At no time in the past twenty years, however,
can it be said that decision making about the growth and development of the sector has
been guided by a comprehensive and detailed plan for the sector.
It is generally accepted, however, that the next wave of growth in the disability services
sector should be guided by a comprehensive and detailed sector development plan
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developed in partnership between the Disability Services Commission and sector
organisations, and based upon direct input from the people that will be using services.
The Disability Services Commission will facilitate the development of this sector
development plan. Once developed, the plan will be regularly updated and will be
available on the Commission’s website. The plan will guide the development of the
sector into the future.
Purpose of the Sector Development Plan
The purpose of the Sector Development Plan is to guide the on-going development of a
viable disability services sector in ways that will:
1. provide the capacity to meet the needs and requirements of people with
disabilities, families and carers throughout Western Australia
2. ensure that people with disabilities, families and carers have access to a range of
supports and services
3. promote the viability and sustainability of service provider organisations
4. promote and foster the development of innovative and responsive models of
support
5. promote the further development of ‘grass roots’, community-based, informal
support arrangements that contribute to the quality of life and community
inclusion opportunities for people with disabilities.
The Sector Development Plan will be a dynamic document that will be owned by and
accessible to all key stakeholders in the disability services sector including public sector
agencies, disability sector organisations and people who use disability services.
Functions of the Sector Development Plan
It is anticipated that the sector development plan will serve a range of functions and
purposes. The overall intent will be to increase the capacity of the sector to respond to
the needs and requirements of people with disabilities, families and carers regardless of
where they are living in Western Australia.
When complete, the sector development plan will perform a range of functions. These
will include:
(a)
a planning and sector development resource for the Commission, other
government agencies and other funding bodies
(b)
a resource to be used by service provider organisations to assist with vision
setting, strategic planning and business planning
(c)
a resource to promote engagement and collaborative partnerships between
disability service organisations
(d)
a resource for people with disabilities, families and cares to assist with planning
and developing individualised supports and services.
Finally, the Sector Development Plan will be a resource to guide the contract
negotiations between the Commission and disability sector organisations consistent
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with the provisions of the State Government’s ‘Delivering Community Services in
Partnership Policy’. This new policy clearly states that public authorities such as the
Disability Services Commission may only fund or purchase community services under
the ‘Policy’ if the desired impact or change is intended to improve social, cultural and/or
economic outcomes for Western Australians. In making decisions about services to be
purchased for the Western Australian community it is essential that the Commission
consult and collaborate with relevant community sector organisations and with
prospective service users.
The Sector Development Plan will be a key resource tool for this collaborative
engagement and planning - with the sector and the community.
Scope of the Plan
The Sector Development Plan will provide (1) a status check on the current disability
services sector, (2) an analysis of relevant population/demographic data and links to
associated data sources, (3) an overview and relevant details of current and emerging
demand for services, (4) a presentation of social, economic and environmental factors
likely to impact on future service requirements, (5) an overview of the emerging trends
in the demand for services and supports, (6) a presentation of the current and emerging
gaps in services and supports.
Collectively, these data and presentations will enable the Commission, the sector and
the wider community to plan and prepare for future service requirements. As such, the
Plan will be a valuable resource for the roll out of Component II of the State
Government’s funding and procurement reforms.
The Sector Development Plan will have a State-wide focus, with appropriate reference
to the differing conditions and requirements of each of the regions and each of the
districts within the Perth metropolitan area. A key objective will be to ensure that people
with disabilities, families and carers have access to a range of service and support
options and models regardless of where they are living in Western Australia.
While the Plan will focus primarily on the “funded’ disability services sector, it will also
contain data, trend analysis and directions for the development of other important
elements of the disability support system. Given the importance of ‘grass roots’,
community based supports for building good lives for people with disabilities and to
support families and carers, the Plan will provide the basis for understanding and future
investment in this “unfunded” area. The ‘Count Me In’: Disability Future Directions plan
will be a key complementary resource for this component of the Sector Development
Plan.
The Plan will contain information, references and links to broader trends and
developments in the disability services field such as technology, contemporary service
models, leadership and governance, and self-directed services.
The Sector Development Plan will also contain appropriate information, references and
links to relevant associated inputs to the disability services sector. Key input areas will
include workforce, training and development, quality assurance and housing.
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Finally, the Plan will provide an important platform for the emergence of social
innovation and social enterprise initiatives. The combination of demographic data, trend
analysis, demand projections, preferred service and support models, system
requirements and community expectations will provide a valuable resource to stimulate
social innovation.
Foundations of the Sector Development Plan
The following will be key reference points for the development and on-going refinement
of the sector development plan:
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Input from people with disabilities, families and carers
State Government directions and priorities
‘Count Me In’: Disability Future Directions
Disability Services Commission’s Strategic Plan
Disability Services Commission’s Annual Report
Annual Disability Sector Report
Input from ‘funded’ disability service organisations
Input from ‘unfunded’ community based groups and advocacy organisations
National Disability Agreement
National Disability Strategy
Delivering Community Services in Partnership Policy
Wide range of relevant data sources
The Sector Development Plan will assist in taking the disability services from where it is
now to where we need it to be in the future for the benefit of the Western Australian
community. The following diagram locates the Sector Development Plan within the
Commission’s objective for the on-going development of the disability services sector.
Sector Development Plan
Identification of gaps and developmental
requirements through:
Current System
Design and
Capacity
+
 Input from people with disabilities,
families and carers
 State Government directions
 Count Me In, DSC’s Strategic Plan,
DSC’s Annual Report, Disability
Sector Report
 Input from “funded” disability service
organisations & “unfunded” community
organisations
 National Disability Agreement
 National Disability Strategy
 Delivering Community Services in
Partnership Policy
 Wide range of relevant data sources
+
Investment in development to improve
capacity
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=
Future System
Design and
Capacity
It is anticipated that the Sector Development Plan will become a resource that is
developed by and valued by the disability services sector and the wider community.
Components of the Plan
The Sector Development Plan will comprise seven key components.
Section
Details
A
Overview of the current service system
(capacity, reach, services and supports, and impact)
B
Presentation and analysis of data (multiple sources)
C
Current and future demand for services and supports
D
Service gaps and areas for development
E
Geographic analysis
F
Sector capacity building
G
Focus areas for development
Details of the Components of the Plan
Section A
Overview of the
current service
system
(capacity, reach,
services and
supports, and
impact)
Details of all services currently purchased by the Disability Services
Commission. This will include:
 Types of supports and services
 Analysis of Government funding provided to services
 Analysis of service users – age, type of disability, location
 Funding provided to disability sector organisations (based on
information contained in DSC Annual Report)
 Funding provided for service provision in regional areas
 Funding provided for service provision in districts within the Perth
metropolitan area
 Funding for different service models
 Current extent of mobility of service users between service providers
Details of specialist disability services currently funded by the Australian
Government
Details, where possible, of capacity in the informal, un-funded, community-
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based support system
Details, where possible, of other service capacity (eg HACC, Local
Government)
Section B
Presentation and
analysis of data
(multiple sources)
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Section C
Current and
future demand for
services and
supports
(type of support
and quantity of
support)
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ABS data
AIHW data
Data held by the Disability Services Commission
Annual Client Data Collection data
Relevant data from the Australian Data Linkage Unit
Relevant information from other relevant State Government
departments (eg Department of Health, State Planning Strategy)
Information provided via the State-wide Local Area Coordination
network
Information made available from disability sector organisations
Information made available from the un-funded disability sector and
other community sources
Input from people with disabilities, families and carers
State Government directions
National and International Trends Analysis
‘Count Me In’
DSC’s Strategic Plan
DSC’s Annual Report
Disability Sector Report
Input from ‘funded’ disability service organisations
Input from ‘unfunded’ community organisations
National Disability Agreement
National Disability Strategy
Delivering Community Services in Partnership Policy
The integration and analysis of information and data from sources listed in
Section C will provide the basis for determining future areas for sector
development.
Section D
Service gaps and
areas for
development
This section will provide a detailed gap analysis between the current service
system capacity and the desired service system.
Section E
Geographic
analysis
A detailed presentation of disability sector capacity and service gaps in each
regional area and in each part of the Perth Metropolitan area.
Section F
Sector capacity
building
Details of required capacity building in key areas such as:
 workforce development including training and development
 quality assurance
Areas for future development and investment will emerge from this analysis
of the gaps in the current service system and the expressed needs of the
community. This section will provide the Disability Service Commission,
service provider organisations, community organisations and people using
services with the information required for planning and future investment in
services and supports.
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Section G
Focus areas for
development
community based infrastructure such as housing, education and
health services
technology
contemporary service models
leadership and governance
This section will contain a detailed presentation of areas for development
within the disability services sector.
It will serve as:
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a planning and sector development resource for the Commission, other
government agencies and other funding bodies

a resource to be used by service provider organisations to assist with
vision setting, strategic planning and business planning

a resource to promote engagement and collaborative partnerships
between disability service organisations.

a resource for people with disabilities, families and carers to assist with
planning and developing individualised supports and services, and

a basis for contract negotiations between the Commission and partner
service provider organisations.
For further information or to provide comment contact:
Monique Williamson
Executive Director
Community and Sector Development Directorate
Disability Services Commission
Phone: 6104 9533
Email: Monique.Williamson@dsc.gov.au
Post: PO Box 441
West Perth, WA 6872
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