In Control Australia has been operating since 2008. It is not an
incorporated body but a movement based on people's active voices
involving a number of individuals and agencies around
Australia. Those involved share a determination to see
self-directed funding (also known as individualised funding,
personalised budgets, self-directed support, etc) available as a
standard option for people living with disability and those family
members involved in their lives.
The common use of the In Control name with
international partners signals a shared interest in the rights of
people living with disability or those who are disadvantaged, and
the importance of such people being at the centre of the
decision-making about their lives, and the importance of supporting
people into valued roles as citizens within communities that value
diversity.
In Control Australia is not wedded to any particular
methodology, and will continue to discover and promote any elements
that uphold and advance the notion of self-direction in people's
lives.
To do this, In Control Australia focuses on five main
activities:
1) reference, information and awareness
2) critical enquiry and reflection
3) dialogue and exchange
4) collaboration
5) leadership and influence
In Control Australia has proved a valuable vehicle for
(1) pulling useful information into one place, (2)
co-ordinating national submissions and other dialogue on
individualised budgets, (3) assisting local stakeholders as
required to build momentum.
In Control meetings and forums have been held in a number of
locations around Australia, and state-based movements are taking
shape. In Control NSW has been the most active, and In
Control SA and In Control TAS are also taking shape.
The States and Territories of Australia are making varied
progress regarding the availability of individualised,
self-directed budgets. States like Victoria and Perth are the
most advanced in their efforts to date, though there is good
evidence from many parts of Australia that reveal the potency of
the approach.
The current areas of focus for In Control Australia are: (1)
providing information and advice to national political stakeholders
in support of a national approach; (2) assisting state and
territory jurisdictions as required, in respect of information
about current best practice in implementation; (3) deepening our
understanding of how people might best be supported to describe and
move towards their personal vision of an ordinary life, how support
agencies might best transition from pre-programmed responses to
authentically personalised supports, and how communities might be
supported to be more welcoming to people living with
disability or those who are disadvantaged.
For further information about In Control Australia, please see
our website.
In Control Australia also produce a monthly Newsletter which you
can sign up to receive here.
Last Updated : 15 March 2011. Page Author: Paul Ferguson.
