EGL is about making it easier for disabled people and their families to create good lives for themselves.
The Objectives of the Enabling Good Lives Approach
Individuals and Families
Individuals and their families have increased control over their lives.
Individuals and their families are able to imagine what a good life looks like for them and experience supports and services as something that makes this easier to achieve.
Individuals and families have one “plan”. In this plan individuals and families describe what they need and want to build a good life for themselves. This plan is based on strengths, preferences and aspirations (dreams). All supports, services and funders use the same plan as the key point of reference.
There is one pool of funding i.e. all government agencies will put the money into one “bucket”.
Any funding is worked out on a person by person and/or family by family basis. Individuals and families have control of this funding
Individuals and families will have initial contact with an Independent Facilitator (Navigator). They will be available to work with individuals and families in considering what a good life looks like for them and how they might achieve it. Note: Navigators do not decide on the level of funding.
Individuals and families decide on the level of involvement they want with an Independent Facilitator (Navigator)
Individuals and families have increased choice. These choices range from managing all of their resources themselves to choosing to buy support from service providers. Some individuals and families may choose a mix of options. Others may want the “say so” regarding their resources but have an organisation manage some or all of the tasks associated with making things happen.
Individuals and families will be able to connect with networks of disabled people and/or families to give them ideas about the choices they can make and the wide range of options that are possible.
Individuals and families will have input into designing and governing systems, supports and services.
Individuals and families will have key roles in the monitoring and evaluation of any systems, supports and services.
Service Providers will:
operate with a clear set of principles and expected outcomes
negotiate how they work on a person by person and/or family by family basis. Note: This will initially be informed by the disabled person’s plan.
experience one monitoring and evaluation process that is developmental.
operate according to a facilitation based approach i.e. make it easier for individuals and families to achieve their goals by tailoring supports rather than the provision of a set range of service types.
work to ensure community (generic) options are exhausted before specialist services are considered.
operate with significantly reduced bureaucratic restrictions.
experience the “system” as being supportive of innovation.
Government Departments will:
have shared principles and outcomes that guide their decisions and actions.
have a shared monitoring and evaluation process.
ensure that all endeavours they fund directly or indirectly (e.g. workforce development) operate in accordance with the same principles and intent as Enabling Good Lives.
