The New Zealand Initiative, an independent Thinktank, recently undertook a deep study into Individualised Funding (IF) - and we thought you’d find their results interesting.
Combining previously published research from around the world and in New Zealand, coupled with interviews with IF clients and providers (including Manawanui staff and clients), The New Zealand Initiative concluded IF provides a very positive experience – for the client, their family and their support worker network.
The report focused on the wellbeing benefits of IF compared with traditional disability funding models, both here in New Zealand and in countries like Australia and the UK, where Individual funding models have been around longer.
Some of the telling findings included:
- Significant increase in net satisfaction of clients moving from traditional models to IF, driven by having more control and freedom over life decisions.
- Increased dignity – both in decision making and in choosing the support and care workers who work closely with them on a regular basis.
- Improved health and servicing outcomes including continuity and reliability of support workers, scheduling flexibility and the ability to adjust support at speed.
But don’t take our word for it. This highly educational – and easy to read report – includes:
- What Individualised Funding is
- The history of IF
- How it works
- And the success of IF here and overseas.