Abstract

Over the last three decades, the financing and provision of care and support services for disabled adults has undergone profound and ongoing change in advanced welfare states. Despite national variations in contemporary care and support systems, common characteristics of the ‘mixed economy of care’ are its complexity, diversity and inequality of outcomes. Different policy and service delivery models for the delivery of care and support services have been developed, implemented and promoted as ways in which to enhance the governance of these services. In helping to advance research and evaluation into these varied policy and service delivery models, this paper outlines four distinct ideal type models of governance of care and support: uncoordinated; case manager coordinated; dwelling coordinated and user coordinated. In presenting each governance model, their relative strengths and weaknesses are articulated. Each governance model is further illustrated by empirical case studies drawn from research conducted in Australia with adults with an acquired disability. Such models provide a conceptual, analytical and methodological tool for critically thinking about and engaging with policy debate and research into this domain.