Active Supports are a transformative model in disability services that prioritize engagement, autonomy, and inclusion. Unlike traditional care models that often focus on task completion by staff, Active Supports involve people with disability in everyday activities, fostering independence and dignity.

The Melbourne Disability Institute (MDI) at the University of Melbourne emphasizes the importance of evidence-based, person-led approaches to disability support. Active Supports align with MDI's mission to promote inclusive practices that improve quality of life and reduce long-term dependency. This has been evidenced by studies including *The effect of active support training on engagement, opportunities for choice, challenging behaviour and support needs*.

Active Supports differ fundamentally from traditional support models in both philosophy and practice. While traditional models often emphasize task completion and caregiver control, Active Supports prioritize the individual's engagement, autonomy, and personal development. In traditional settings, support workers may perform tasks for individuals with disability, inadvertently reinforcing dependency. In contrast, Active Supports encourage doing tasks *with* individuals, fostering skill development and confidence.

Initial costs include staff training, coaching, and service redesign. According to NDIS pricing, support services typically range from $50–$70/hour, with Active Supports potentially requiring higher upfront investment, primarily in time, training and planning. However, long-term benefits include reduced reliance on intensive support and improved social outcomes.

It is of interest to note that an increase in the number of staff numbers (and hence cost) is not key to the success of active supports implementation – See Staffing numbers and active support: A case study. Rather it is the impact of the active support model and not the volume of staff support that is critical.

A University of Melbourne study investigated the impact of staffing levels on resident engagement in group homes. The research found that Active Support training significantly increased resident participation, regardless of whether one or two staff were present. This highlights that quality of interaction, not quantity of staff, is key to effective support.

At Focus ACT, we implement Active Supports through:

Person-Centred Active Support

Our evidence-based practices implementing "Every Moment Has Potential" principles including graded assistance, choice maximization, and person-centered engagement based on La Trobe University research by Professor Jim Mansell, Dr Julie Beadle-Brown, Professor Christine Bigby, and Dr Emma Bould.

Staff Training and Development

Evidence-Based Practice

Community Inclusion

Active Supports naturally lead to greater community participation as individuals develop skills and confidence to engage with their local communities, access services independently, and build meaningful relationships.

This policy perspective reflects Focus ACT's commitment to evidence-based, person-centered disability support that promotes independence, dignity, and community inclusion.