Direct Payment Scheme

Evaluation of the DHS Direct Payments Scheme

The Direct Payments Project has been an undertaking of Disability Services in partnership with the Southern Metropolitan Region. Its purpose was to assist people with a disability, family and carers to choose and pay for supports that meet their individual plans.

The Direct Payments Project was one of a number of 'Participating in Policy Projects' of the Active Participation Strategy, which sought opportunities to develop, trial and evaluate innovative approaches to increasing the active participation of people with a disability in the policy-making activities that happen across the Division and in regions.

LDC Group evaluated the DHS Direct Payments Project. People with a disability, family/carers and other stakeholders had key roles in the evaluation which included an action learning methodology. The evaluation used an Action Research approach and included:

Development of an evaluation framework
Design of consultation instruments
Conducting consultations
Collating, analysing and reviewing literature and data
Reporting the findings of the evaluation
Preparation of a digital strory
Presentation of the findings at a forum
Supporting action learning by the project management group

The evaluation focused on:

The project design
The support and tools developed for Direct Payments users
Outcomes for Direct Payments users as a result of Direct Payments
The management and administration processes
The Action research approach to participatory policy formulation

The evaluation measured:

How the Direct Payments Consultants contributed to policy formulation
Whether Direct Payments users experienced greater independence and autonomy as a result of using direct payments during the trial
Whether direct payments users’ community participation was enhanced due to direct payments during the trial
Whether in the trial direct payments users had a greater choice of disability service providers as a result of direct payments
Whether the accountability of public funds was duly recognised