CONTENTS

Editorial: Contemporary Understandings of Autonomy, Empowerment and Self-Determination

Vicki Grinlaubs and Jane Sherwin

From the President

Mike Duggan

Personalised Services and Support Arrangements: What Has Happened in Queensland

Jan Dyke has a long history of being a friend, ally and advocate in the lives of people with disabilities and is passionate in her commitment to working towards making a real and sustainable difference in their lives. Here Jan explores some of the historical background and fundamental beliefs that have shaped the development of personalised support services in Queensland.

Ten Guidelines for Family Governance of Services

We invited Margaret Ward to share the principles and guidelines she has found helpful in her role as both a parent and as a board member of a small family-governed service.

Individual Governance A Personal Perspective

Bill Garsden considers some important personal issues about self-managing his own support arrangements. Bill acquired his disability twenty-seven years ago and has lived at home with support for twenty-four years. He hopes his life experiences are of assistance.

What Gets in the Way of Person-centredness in Services?

Adrienne McGhee works for an organisation which recently supported approximately fifty people to move from an institutional setting to live in their own homes in the community. She discusses some of the challenges involved in ensuring support is person-centred.

Reflections from a Grumpy Old Man

Ric Thompson, manager of Inclusion Works in Townsville, reflects on what we can learn from history about protecting and maintaining community and organisational values.

Keeping the Focus on the Person, not the Service

We asked Leanne Burke to describe some essential characteristics of self-governed or family-governed support arrangements. Leanne discusses how people with disabilities have achieved greater levels of authority over their own support arrangements and how co-ordinators and workers can assist by developing an understanding of their support role.