Attendant Care Direct Funding Pilot Project Evaluation: Interim Report

Abstract

The Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care (DADHC) is piloting a direct funding project in conjunction with the Attendant Care Program (ACP). The direct funding pilot aims to complement the objectives of the ACP, which provides support to individuals with physical disabilities with a range of tasks and activities to allow them to live and participate in their communities. ACP is funded under the Commonwealth State and Territory Disability Agreement and administered by DADHC. The report compares three types of ACP funding models, which differ in who employs the attendant carers, who receives the funding from DADHC and who is responsible for management and reporting: Cooperative model – the client is the attendant carers’ employer; the service provider provides administrative and management support. Funds are paid to the service provider and the service provider is accountable to DADHC for the management of funds and reporting. Employer model – the service provider is the attendant carers’ employer; in some organisations, clients can chose to participate in some attendant carer management decisions, such as recruitment. Funds are paid to the service provider and the service provider is accountable to DADHC for the management of funds and reporting. Direct funding – the client is responsible for all attendant carer employment and management. Funds are paid directly to the client, who is accountable to DADHC for the management of funds and reporting.