Disability Services Commission Annual Report

2.2 Service Reports — Individual Coordination
Five Years at a Glance
Measure 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08
Total service users accessing LAC 6,981 7,169 7,605 7,836 8,285
Coordination
Total service users accessing LAC 1,465 1,547 1,521 1,521 1,470
Direct Consumer Funding
Av. cost/service user accessing $2,367 $2,393 $2,427 $2,542 $2,469
LAC Coordination
Av. cost/service user accessing $7,853 $7,673 $7,360 $6,772 $6,563
LAC Direct Consumer Funding
Total cost ($’000) $28,032 $29,027 $29,655 $30,219 $30,101
Consumer satisfaction 78% Not
measured
65% Not
measured
53%
Note:
(a) The 2003–2004 client satisfaction measure has been amended to indicate satisfaction by
respondents of all ages.
(b) The average cost per service user for 2004–2005 for LAC Coordination and for LAC Direct
Consumer Funding and the number of service users accessing LAC Direct Consumer Funding in
2004–2005 have been recalculated retrospectively to adjust for miscoding of data.
Access to LAC Coordination has increased by 19 per cent over the past five years,
while cost per service user has remained steady. The trends in the data for LAC
Direct Consumer Funding reflect the recommendations of the 2003 LAC Review to
reduce the amount of direct consumer funding provided by LAC by transferring
complex, self managed program funding to agency managed or shared management
options. Reported satisfaction with LAC services has declined over the five years.
While some of the decline in reported satisfaction is largely explained by an increase
in the number of respondents reporting as either ‘in between’ or ‘don’t know’, the net
dissatisfaction with LAC has increased slightly from 10 per cent in 2004 to 15 per
cent in 2008. A number of changes are currently in train to enhance the
responsiveness of LAC, including the development of a new outcomes quality
framework; new recruitment and retention strategies; the introduction of individual
planning agreements with individuals, families and carers; and a review of direct
consumer funding strategies.
Major Achievements 2007–2008
Independent living was a focus of Individual Coordination during 2007–2008. As part
of this, initiatives aimed at increasing opportunities for young adults to live
independently were implemented. For example, the Home2Home program in
Bunbury commenced to support young adults to live independently away from the
family home. Young people were also assisted with the transition from school to
community living with the Commission partnering with the Department of Education
and Training on this initiative.
Meanwhile, to support adults to live independently and participate in the community,
initiatives were also developed through flexible family support funding. In addition,
36 Disability Services Commission Annual Report 2007–2008