Disability Services Commission - Parliament of Western Australia

1.1 Executive summary
In 2011–2012 the Disability Services Commission:
• assisted 23,412 Western Australians with disability
• spent $657.47 million to advance the rights and support the needs of West
Australians with disability – a 21.5 per cent increase on last year
• provided 67.5 per cent of the Commission’s annual budget to 120 disability sector
organisations that provide services and supports directly to the community
• received $533.62 million from the State Government (81 per cent of the
Commission’s budget)
• received Australian Government funding of $110.33 million under the National
Disability Agreement and other agreements (17 per cent of the Commission’s
budget). The remaining two per cent of the Commission’s revenue was received
from multiple sources.
Many significant achievements have been made, partnerships formed and
initiatives announced during the past year, including:
• Four trial sites for the My Way project were announced - Goldfields, Lower South
West, Cockburn/Kwinana and Perth Hills. My Way aims to increase the level of
control that individuals and families have over their supports and services. The
outcomes from this project are expected to contribute to the development of the
National Disability Insurance Scheme.
• More than 100 disability sector organisations benefited from an across-the-board 15
per cent price adjustment on all eligible not-for-profit community service contracts.
The extra funding was provided in support of the State Government’s ‘Delivering
Community Services in Partnership Policy’.
• More than $1 million recurrent funding was allocated to respite centres in York and
Gosnells to provide support for people with disability who also have high
medical needs.
• The Commission’s Reconciliation Action Plan was reviewed and endorsed for 2012-
2014 and included a commitment to increasing Aboriginal employment rates.
• An Aboriginal employment strategy was developed to explore alternative
employment options as well as to promote and understand Aboriginal culture, and to
build stronger Aboriginal community networks and partnerships.
• The State Government committed $18 million to establish two secure communitybased
accommodation centres for people with an intellectual or cognitive disability
who are accused of offences but have been deemed not fit to plead. Legislation will
be required to enable the Commission to establish and operate the disability justice
centres. The Commission has progressed work on the model of service for the
centres and for an in-reach prison program.
4