Community Participation
Aim
Help young people with a disability develop the skills they need to work towards their goals.
Who is it for?
Young people with a disability with moderate to high support needs who need an alterative to paid employment or further education in the medium or longer term.
Key objectives
- Maintain and develop life skills and increase independence
- Continue learning and participate in meaningful leisure, recreational, social and cultural activities
- Participate and be included in the local community
- Have active and valued roles in the community
- Expand friendships and support networks
- Fair access to supports for Aboriginal people and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- Supported in making the transition from school to adult life
Community Participation, Life Choices & Active Ageing Program Guidelines (PDF) contain information about policy and operational requirements.
Options for clients
Community Participation has three types of services to provide flexibility and choice for young people. Participants can choose the service type that best meets their needs and goals. They can move between service types as their needs and goals change.
Centre-based with community access
A young person participates in a range of day activities in a centre and in the community.
Individual community based options
Each young person designs their own program of activities in a range of community settings with the support of a service provider who acts as an options coordinator.
Self managed model
A person with a disability and their family or advocate designs an individual program, within the funding allocation. They choose, direct and control the nature of their support, consistent with the aims of the Community Participation program. An intermediary will manage the financial, legal and administrative requirements.
My life, my way – Choosing the Self Managed Model for your day program (PDF, large file >1MB) is an ADHC booklet which provides more information about self management.
View the list of organisations approved to provide Life Choices, Active Ageing or Community Participation programs and the service models they provide in your area.
Satisfaction survey
In 2008 ADHC undertook a satisfaction survey of young people in the Community Participation program.
This summary of the satisfaction survey (PDF) highlights the main outcomes from the Community Participation Monitoring - Measuring Service User Satisfaction report; a part of the monitoring and evaluation process for the Community Participation program.