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Disability services in Victoria have been
undergoing major reform since the early 1990s. A significant reform
has been the development of Individual Support Packages (ISPs).
People with ISPs can manage the funds themselves and choose the
services and providers that best suit them. At least 7 800
Victorians have an ISP, accounting for 19 per cent of the
Department of Human Services' (DHS) disability funds.
The audit found evidence of good outcomes for recipients
and that all stakeholders are enthusiastic about the results of
ISPs and their ongoing potential. However, benefits are not
consistently delivered. Application processes are burdensome,
allocation decisions can lack consistency and transparency, and DHS
needs greater assurance that funds are spent appropriately. DHS
also needs to support and develop the new marketplace in the
disability services sector. Current departmental activities and
forward planning align with these directions.
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