The information included in this review aims to inform the development of an effective Self-Management Policy for the NDIA, as well as any considerations that may be relevant to the development of guidance, tools or processes once the policy has been developed. This review focused on the design, context and outcomes from countries that are most similar to Australia and that provide individualised funding to people with disability that they can self-direct or self-manage.

Findings:

Self-management has been found to lead to beneficial outcomes for the budget holder and their families.

This includes higher satisfaction with access to needs-led supports and improved:

• quality of life
• health
• social and community participation
• choice and control
• empowerment
• independence
• relationship quality.

The review found it is generally recognised that people with any type of disability can self-manage if they have the support of:

• family
• a circle of support
• an independent representative, agency or broker if they have limited capacity.

Self-management is more beneficial when people can use their funding in a creative and flexible way. It also works better when they have timely access to information, supports and tools to support self-management.