We are making a major change to disability planning in NSW. We want to work with local communities to improve and build support for people with a disability so they can access the services and supports they need and to increase their contribution as part of the local community.

The Sector Planning Framework will:

• help local communities to deliver a person centred and lifespan approach to disability service provision.
• help ensure people with a disability can access mainstream services and participate in the general community.

The framework will use a place based planning approach. This means that local communities plan for services and supports that are flexible and suit their area.

The framework will be implemented with a range of partners including NGO peaks and service providers, NSW Government and Commonwealth agencies, local government and people with a disability, their families and carers. It will contribute at a local level to NSW 2021, the NSW State Plan.

The framework includes five operational elements:

1. Governance
2. Knowledge and mapping
3. Participation
4. Analysis and decision making
5. Plans, implementation and review

We will continue to work with local communities and build on our existing relationships and planning processes. New plans will be put in place by 2013-14. They will include:

• strategies and priorities to increase access to mainstream services for people with a disability, their families and carers;
• strategies and priorities to improve coordination, collaboration, innovation and problem solving within the service system;
• strategies to expand capacity of the service system; and
• strategies and priorities that focus on early intervention and prevention.