Disability Support
Client numbers across our disability support services have remained steady over the past year, with disabled people and their whānau continuing to make up around 6% of total client numbers. Māori represent approximately 13% of those receiving support. While there has been no significant growth or operational change within the service, this stability sits within a wider disability sector that has faced considerable uncertainty and pressure.
Support Worker’s graduate New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing
Many disabled people are choosing more flexible models of support, such as Individualised Funding, rather than traditional in-home support options. These models offer greater choice, control, and flexibility, and are more closely aligned with the Enabling Good Lives principles that continue to shape the future direction of disability support in Aotearoa New Zealand.
At the same time, disabled people, whānau, and providers have been navigating a difficult environment marked by proposed legislative change, funding uncertainty, and benefit reductions. These pressures have contributed to low trust in Disability Support Services and government decision-making more broadly. For service providers, this has made it challenging to remain confident and optimistic while supporting people through change.
Legislative change, funding uncertainty, and benefit reductions add pressure to service.
Against this backdrop, the service has continued to provide consistent support and has maintained its client base. Visionwest has also invested in building the Senior Management Team’s understanding of the Enabling Good Lives approach. This will help inform future strategy development and service delivery improvements, ensuring disabled people and their whānau remain central to decision-making.
A key theme to highlight is the challenging environment in which disabled people, whānau, and disability service providers are operating. Ongoing uncertainty has affected confidence across the sector, but our steady client numbers and commitment to Enabling Good Lives provide a constructive foundation for future service development.
