Overview
The My Future: My Life strategy is a key element of the Queensland Government’s commitment to supporting young people with a disability transition effectively from school to adult life.
The key premise of the My Future: My Life strategy is to promote and support individuals’ empowerment by supporting young people with a disability before they leave school to make plans for and make choices about their future after they leave school.
The key drivers underlying this strategy include:
- the recognised need to provide an early response to the transition from school, which will avert the stress and anxiety experienced by this group of young people and their families. Through effective and early planning it is anticipated that this will help in building the resilience and capacity of the young person and their family.
- early planning means that young people are better equipped to leave school with more opportunities identified and available. This strategy invests in early planning responses which can generate longer-term benefits and will ensure that supports and resources are provided based on the young person’s needs, goals, choices and aspirations.
My Future: My Life commenced on 1 February 2012 to coincide with the start of the school year.
The implementation of this strategy is through collaboration between Disability and Community Care Services and the Department of Education and Training (DET) and in partnership with Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) and Queensland Education Commission (QCEC). More information is available through the Fact Sheet Fact Sheet .
Eligibility and Access
To be eligible for assistance through the My Future: My Life strategy participants must:
- be a student in year 11 or 12 in secondary school;and
- have a disability which is attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive, neurological, sensory or physical impairment or a combination of impairments; and
- meet the residency criteria (as per the Disability Services Act 2006); and
- live in Queensland; and
- have a Senior Education and Training (SET) plan (or equivalent), which they have developed in conjunction with their family and a representative from their school.
Funding
Eligible young people in years 11 and 12 (or equivalent) can access time-limited financial assistance to support them to achieve the goals as outlined in their SET plan (or equivalent) and that items and/or services requested have a direct and tangible link to the goals in the SET plan (or equivalent).
Prior to considering funded support available through this strategy other existing State and Federal funded and community supports should be explored and considered in the first instance.
The range of items and services requested will need to be identified through the on-line application process with Centacare in which there is a Resource Request section. If an on-line application is unable to be lodged, Centacare can be contacted on 1300 MY PLAN (1300 697 526) to discuss an alternate process.
Items requested must show a direct and tangible link to the young person’s transition goals as specified in their SET plan (or equivalent).
The level of funding an individual receives will be dependent upon the resources required by the person as they work toward their identified transition goals.
The funding available through My Future: My Life can be used for activities such as:
- career counselling and/or assessments;
- support to undertake work experience and/or other learning opportunities;
- equipment or materials necessary to undertaking training or work experience opportunities;
- support to develop a resume;
- support for the young person to link with mainstream supports;
- assistance for the young person to explore and access a range of formal and informal community supports.
Additional information about what can and cannot be purchased through this initiative is available through the My Future: My Life Inclusions and Exclusions guide list.
Process
The My Future: My Life strategy will be administered through a Non-Government Service Provider (NGSP), Centacare Brisbane. Centacare will be responsible for receiving and verifying individual applications for support under this strategy. They will also be responsible for administering the funding for the individuals accessing the support through the strategy.
Young people who would like to apply for the support available under the My Future: My Life strategy canmake direct contact with Centacare. Contact can made on 1300 MY PLAN (1300 697 526) or by visiting the Centacare website.
Alternatively, details about access to the strategy can be provided by contacting your local Disability and Community Care Services service centre.
To access the supports available through this strategy the following information is to be completed and forwarded to Centacare:
- evidence to substantiate the young person’s disability diagnosis in accordance with the Disability Services Act 2006 and that they are an Australian resident and live in Qld through proof including birth certificate, passport, bank statement, Centrelink documents and so forth; and
- evidence that the young person has completed a SET plan (or equivalent); and
- a completed on-line Resource Request.
Centacare has developed an on-line application process to ensure the most effective and efficient management of applications, however should there not be the capacity to complete an on-line application, Centacare can be contacted on 1300 MY PLAN (1300 697 526) to discuss an alternative.
Contact Us
For further information about the My Future: My Life strategy please contact Centacare on 1300 MY PLAN (1300 697 526). In addition, for further details about access to this strategy please contact your nearest Disability and Community Care Services service centre or call 1800 177 120 (TTY: 1800 010 222).
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