Services

Disability ACT has three distinct areas that support people with disabilities. All three areas work together to achieve the best possible outcomes. These areas are:

Intensive Treatment & Support (ITAS) Service

The Intensive Treatment and Support (ITAS) Service has been created by Disability ACT in coordination with Mental Health ACT to meet the needs of people who have a dual disability with high and complex needs. Dual disability means having an intellectual disability, combined with a mental disorder or dysfunction.

ITAS has been established to provide the range of service responses required to meet the needs of people in the ACT who meet, or have the potential to meet, the following criteria:

• diagnosis of a dual disability;
• high and complex needs;
• at risk of criminally offending or re-offending, and
• are 17 years or older.

ITAS service delivery emphasises the principles of responsibility, inclusion & participation. Effective service delivery will be achieved through maintaining people in their normal community setting; providing timely assessment and treatment; ensuring support for informal and professional carers; supporting social service input; and linking efficiently with specialist services when required.

ITAS Information Sheet 56Kb
ITAS Information Sheet 60Kb

ITAS Referral Process 59KB
ITAS Referral Process 55Kb

ITAS Referral Checklist 52Kb
ITAS Referral Checklist 47Kb

ITAS Appeal Process 53Kb
ITAS Appeal Process 48Kb

Sector Development and Support

Sector Development and Support (SDS) works with and funds sector organisations to deliver quality supports and services to people with disabilities in the ACT. Through the provision of individual funding, SDS supports individuals and families. SDS works with individuals and organisations to support the development of new initiatives in the disability sector.

ACT Taxi Subsidy Scheme

Details and Application Form ACT Taxi Subsidy Scheme (updated) 152KB
Details and Application Form ACT Taxi Subsidy Scheme (updated)  197KB

Policy and Planning

Policy and Planning is responsible for ensuring that organisational policies and practices reflect the unique needs and desired outcomes for people with a disability and the families that care for them. The Unit also provides advice to the Government on all issues that impact on people with disabilities.

The Policy and Planning Manager also administers the Taxi Subsidy Scheme. The Taxi Subsidy Scheme assists people who have a severe disability that prevents them using public transport. The Scheme provides a subsidy towards the cost of taxi transport.

Individual Support Services (ISS)

Individual Support Services (ISS) provide individualised and flexible support arrangements for people with disabilities on behalf of Disability ACT. Briefly, these services are:

Supported Accommodation
Disability ACT current provides supported accommodation in 65 households across the ACT. The service is primarily provided in group shared arrangements for people who have high and complex needs.

Respite - for children, young people and adults with a disability
Centre based respite services are available for people with disabilities from the age of five, provided from four houses across Canberra. Respite services for children and young people are provided at separate locations.

Nearly Time to Move onto Teen Respite  62KB
Nearly Time to Move onto Teen Respite  50KB

Nearly Time to Move onto the Adult Respite  58KB
Nearly Time to Move onto the Adult Respite  48KB

Disability ACT Respite Services - Getting Started  58KB
Disability ACT Respite Services - Getting Started  55KB

Respite Services Healthy Lifestyles  69KB
Respite Services Healthy Lifestyles  54KB

Lifestyle Service
The Lifestyles Service supports individuals to identify and work toward their own goals and develop formal and informal support networks in their community.

Support is provided in a way that assists each person to live how they want to live, achieve what they want to achieve and maximise their involvement within the community with resources available in the community.

Individual Response Team (IRT)
The Individual Response Team is responsible for assessing, planning, developing and maintaining individual support services for people with a disability living in the community. The Individual Response Team has been involved in developing several community partnerships which are providing innovative responses to individuals and their families. These include:

• Family governance support groups;
• Service co-ordination for children with a high and complex need disability through A Family-centred Flexible Intensive Response Model (AFFIRM);
• Alternative pathways for young people at risk of entering Residential Aged Care.

IRT staff can undertake formal Needs Assessments to assist individuals and their families with:

• Futures planning
• Support need;
• Linkage to services and co-ordination; and
• Determination of priority of need and supports.

For more information about these services, contact 6207 1086. Business hours are 9am-5pm Monday to Friday (GPO Box 158, Canberra ACT 2601).

Disability ACT: Individual Support Services (updated) 41KB 

Disability ACT Information Service

The Information Service provides a centralised contact point for people with disabilities, their families and carers, and other members of the community seeking information about disability matters within the ACT.

The Information Service is also the point of application for Disability ACT’s respite services and Individual Support Packages.
Information Fact Sheet  58KB
Information Fact Sheet  40KB

Registration of Interest Policy

Individual Support Package (ISP) Policy

An Individual Support Package (ISP) is funding allocated to help people who have a disability pay for disability services and other supports.

This policy provides advice about the planning, application, management, and review of Individual Support Packages, as well as the funding mechanisms and processes for administering the ISP program.

View Documents

Registration of Interest Policy

Disability ACT funds services and individuals in a way intended to best meet the needs of the person with a disability, within the resources available and within the eligibility criteria as defined by our funding agreements with the ACT Government and the Australian Government.

These agreements do not include the expectation that all disability needs will be met. They do contain the expectation that Disability ACT will make the best use of all available resources and determine priorities in a fair and equitable way.

Registration of Interest  87KB
Registration of Interest  69KB

Registration of Interest Form  74KB
Registration of Interest Form  39KB