Changes over time
• The Disability Services Office was established in 1986 in order to provide a more co-ordinated policy and planning capacity within the state government in response to statutory reform at the federal level (through the introduction of the Disability Services Act 1986).
• The office was initially established within the SA Health Commission. The formation of the Department for Human Services in the mid 90’s provided the opportunity to re-cast the office away from a health framework into a community services framework. The introduction of the first CSTDA in 1991 with its increased reporting and monitoring requirements expanded the scope and responsibility of the office, and this, along with increased probity requirements in relation to the management of funding contracts with agencies, has seen the office grow substantially.
• In 2005 the office was reconfigured as the Client Services Office to recognise a broader role in finding ways to support all clients who need personal support to maintain an independent lifestyle in the community.
• In 2006 the office was renamed the Office for Disability and Client Services (ODACS), reflecting its role in promoting inclusion for all people with disabilities. As part of the disability reforms in 2006 the functions of the office were expanded to include policy and planning for people in Supported Residential Facilities, and service development and planning functions previously undertaken by IDSC. The amalgamation of government services into the one agency Disability SA has again influenced the role of ODACS as the manager of a service level agreement with Disability SA, as well as leading government disability policy across all sectors of disability.

Challenges of becoming the Office for Disability and Client Services
There have been many challenges over the life of what is now the Office for Disability and Client Services. More recently, the expansion of the office’s client group beyond the ‘traditional’ disability agency boundaries to a wider range of people is about attempting the very thing that government agencies find very difficult – that is, working across the ‘silos’, providing joined-up services and stretching resources further. Services for people with a psychiatric disability is an example of an area where we are funding some new, although limited, services. It is great to see that reform in this area has really been given prominence through the work of the Social Inclusion Board, and that government is looking hard at making significant improvements to the community based supports that people with a psychiatric disability need to manage their lives effectively.

ODACS today
ODACS has a number of ‘arms’ to its business. There is the funding and service development arm, which manages contracts with the non-government sector and which comprises roughly half of the government funds directed towards disability services. There is the access and inclusion arm which drives policy development across state government, with the aim of ensuring people with disabilities have access to mainstream government services. The policy arm, combined with information services, exists to generate information, research, and policy work that ultimately supports the Minister give substance to his policy directions and aspirations for disability services.

Right now, one of the major activities ODACS is engaged in is assisting the Minister in securing a more sustainable budget position for disability services through the negotiations for the next Commonwealth State Territory Disability Agreement (CSTDA).

Future directions
Nationally all jurisdictions are struggling with the level of unmet need being experienced, and we all need a more robust evidence base about what is needed and what outcomes are being achieved with our current resources. Improving our data and information processes will be a critical area of focus for South Australia in the next few years.

The reforms to disability services in this state are really about making sure we can do our very best with the resources we have. The coming year will be exciting as we see the reform measures take shape, particularly as Disability SA becomes fully operational. For ODACS, our future is firmly focussed on, amongst other things, achieving the South Australian Strategic Plan objectives in relation to supported accommodation, day options for young people leaving school, and the employment of people with disabilities in the public service. Supported accommodation will remain a major priority for us. There will be a strong focus on increasing supply and options, looking at partnership approaches with non-government agencies and mixed funding models, and continuing the de-institutionalisation processes currently underway.

Perspective of the sector
There is a much greater emphasis on community living and in-home support and we are steadily whittling away at our institutions to give all residents the opportunity to live in a community setting.

The disability sector has always been characterised by strong agencies ready to robustly defend the rights of their clients. The sector is now travelling to a place where there is much greater integration across agencies and services. Certainly the integration of government services into the one agency provides enormous opportunities to develop more coherency and apply resources more effectively.

By Dr David Caudrey