Australian Federation of Disability Organisations

Flexible Housing Options Forum

On 20 September the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations held the Flexible Housing Options: International Lessons for Australia forum in Canberra.

The forum included presentations by Dr Carmel Laragy from La Trobe University and Samantha Jenkinson from AFDO.

Cate McKenzie, Group Manager, Housing and Disability, FaCSIA, opened the forum. Ms McKenzie emphasised the timeliness of the forum as the Commonwealth has recently commenced a national consultation about options for providing supported accommodation.

Dr Laragy spoke about her recent study of independent living programmes for people with disability in England and Sweden. Her presentation looked at the factors that promote increased flexibility and choice, and greater social participation.

Lessons from the UK and Sweden

The lessons from the UK and Sweden included:
• A national legislative framework is an important driver of change.
• Direct payments schemes help people to stay living in their own homes.
• Flexible options with appropriate supports prevent people from moving into residential care, and in some instances support people to move out of residential care.
• Direct payments are cost-effective but should not be seen as a cheap option. In particular, there is a still a need for community development and for specialist disability services.
• Information is critical and needs to be available on an “as needed” basis.

Overall findings

Overall, Dr Laragy found that people with disability and their families and carers are consistently looking for flexible and creative options.

Flexibility and consumer control offers opportunities for people to live the lives they want.

Direct control is an idea whose time has come.

Flexible options come with challenges and risks which need to be faced and managed. A complete risk adverse approach will stifle the life enhancing possibilities for many. More research is needed regarding possible risks to particular client groups.

Need clarity, transparency and equity.

Need clear accountability requirements and mechanisms.

Need a range of service possibilities to meet different needs.

Private agencies need to be carefully monitored because the profit motive can conflict with meeting peoples’ needs.

You can read more, including a copy of Ms Jenkinson’s address and a summary of the discussion, on the AFDO website.

AFDO thanks FaCSIA for its assistance in providing the venue for the forum.