Project Summaries - Research that helps us understand the best way to support Australians with a disability to have a better life

The Outcomes Project

Outcomes Framework

This multi-faceted project aims to define an appropriate measurement method for capturing the outcomes experienced by people with a disability, their families and carers, and the communities with whom they engage.  The project has developed an outcomes measurement framework with nine life domains, and a range of related data collection and analysis instruments. These tools are currently being validated in a range of studies.  In summary, research is focusing on:

• Identifying and developing an understanding of the core components of outcomes relevant to the experiences of people with a disability, their families and carers, and the communities with whom they engage;
• Identifying the efficacy of existing measurement methods and tools that might be relevant;
• Developing appropriate measurement methods that will be relevant across service contexts and accessible to a wide range of people with a disability. 
• Testing and validating measurement methods in a wide range of contexts.

This work has been funded from several sources: The Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, The Marian and EH Flack Trust, Department of Human Services, Deakin University and Scope.

A range of tools has been developed including: The Outcomes and Impact Scale; the Family Capacity Scale; the Family Coping Scale; the Person Centred Planning Review tool; and the Measuring Outcomes in Services and Supports tool. A number of these tools are being further tested and validated.

Findings in relation to this work have been presented at a number of national and international conferences.

All the survey tools that have been developed are currently being used in a number of Scope research projects. They will help tell us the story of clients’ experience of our services.

The Measuring Outcomes in Services and Supports tool has been published. 

Evaluation of the Scope Early Childhood Intervention Service Flexible Support Package Program, Eastern Region

The research evaluates a new brokerage program, designed to deliver flexible, individualised supports and services for families accessing early childhood intervention. The purpose of this research is to explore (a) the effectiveness of the program's processes as experienced by families, (b) the types of life-outcomes associated with program engagement, (c) the extent to which the program is perceived to foster capacity in families and communities, and (d) the range of services and supports that families are requesting, analysed in terms of the International Classification of Functioning areas of function, activity/participation and environment.

The project is part-supported through the Department of Human Services, Eastern Region.

The findings have been presented through several conference presentations. The findings have been used by Scope to further inform and improve the delivery of the Flexible Support Package Program.

DHS has used these findings to fine-tune the Flexible Support Package Program.

The Impact of Person Centred Approaches in a Disability Community Group

Person-centred approaches and person-centred planning are an increasingly central feature of disability services as they seek to become more client directed in line with the Victorian Government vision and legislation. The project aims to evaluate the process of a more individualised person-centred approach with the Scope Community Group (Braybrook). The group comprises approximately twelve clients in their twenties – all of whom have a person centred plan.

This group of clients and staff provides an opportunity to examine the key issues around a person centred approach – particularly issues to do with outcomes for clients (i.e. what is changing for people with disabilities under a person-centred approach including outcomes related to community inclusion), enablers and barriers to success, and the impact on a service provider and staff in changing practices to meet the government guidelines. A measurement tool has been developed by the researchers which will supplement person centred planning and provide a means of gathering data that will enable measurement of outcomes.

This project has been partly funded by Deakin University and the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust.

Delivery of Early Childhood Intervention Services in Scope Specialist Services Southern Region

This research aims to provide evidence to evaluate the effectiveness of one region’s Early Childhood Intervention Services. The project aims to explore the levels and types of family centred practice provided by Scope’s Southern Region Specialist Service and the outcomes for families and children, while identifying the enablers and barriers to providing positive outcomes. In addition, the region is supporting the growth of transdisciplinary practice among its therapists, with the research seeking to provide evidence as to the effectiveness of transdisciplinary practice and the experiences of therapists in providing their services to families. Further, the research evaluates the effect of a newly developed manual to support therapists and families. Key outcomes from the research include: contributing to evidence about outcomes for families and children as a result of Early Childhood Intervention in the area of disability, and the development and trialing of useful methods of data collection about outcomes measurement that may have wider application.

The project has been funded by the Marian and EH Flack Trust.

Inclusion and Community Building

Inclusion - Making It Happen. Key elements for disability organisations to facilitate inclusion

This project examines the role of disability organisations in working together with people with a disability, families and communities to foster inclusion.  Additionally, it investigates how disability organisations can enhance their function in facilitating inclusion. 

Specifically, the project aims to:

1. Provide clear definitions and examples of what is meant by terms associated with this work such as ‘community’, ‘participation’, and ‘inclusion’
2. Identify the key factors, enablers and barriers (that occurred at an individual, family, community and organisational level) to connecting individualised and person centred work with inclusion
3. Identify the changes or outcomes (that occurred at an individual, family, community and organisational level) as a result of a selected sample of this work
4. Identify the key organisational tasks or ingredients needed to enhance this work.

This study is not concerned with answering why inclusion work should be fostered.  Rather, it is concerned with answering how it can be fostered, how it currently is fostered in practice and where there is evidence of good practice.

This project is funded by the Department of Human Services.

View the Inclusion: Making it happen (PDF 1.8 MB) research report.

Food Court Friends – Building Relationships through Research

The Food Court Friends research project was conducted over a period of three years at a time when Scope clients were increasing their community involvement, including frequent visits to indoor shopping centres. The aim of the research is to identify key issues pertaining to the experience of shopping centres for people with disabilities from the St Albans Day and Lifestyle Centre and the Scope Community Group (Braybrook), along with the experiences of the shopkeepers and other personnel when engaging with people with disabilities.

The first task was to identify the key issues before commencing the work of addressing these issues, followed by the evaluation of the strategies implemented. The key issue discovered revolved around issues of communication, with a communication guide sheet subsequently designed and distributed to shopkeepers to assist them in communicating with people with disabilities. Central to the project was the role of people with disabilities as co-researchers working with students from Caroline Chisholm Catholic College.

Conference presentations by members of the Scope Community Group highlighted the involvement of people with disabilities. Findings highlighted the need and benefits for people with disabilities having a central role in research, while community inclusion work in shopping centres requires ongoing concentrated work in partnership with centre management.

This project was funded by ANZ Trustees.

The project underpinned the thinking for a subsequent, larger study: Inclusive Shopping Centres.

Food Court Friends - Building relationships through research (PDF 793 KB).

Inclusive Shopping Centres

The project aims to identify key issues in relation to how people with disability living in the Municipality of Whittlesea experience Westfield Shopping Centre, Plenty Valley.

Key objectives of the Creating Inclusive Shopping Centres project include:

1. Exploring the lived experience of people with disability and their supports at Westfield Shopping Centre, Plenty Valley
2. Identifying enablers to inclusion at Westfield Shopping Centre, Plenty Valley
3. Identifying barriers to inclusion at Westfield Shopping Centre, Plenty Valley
4. Identifying possible ways of creating more inclusive shopping centres.

Data will be collected from a range of participants through the Whittlesea Disability Network, including people with disability, their family members, carers, paid support workers and advocates.

To collect the relevant data, the research will employ both quantitative and qualitative research methods, such as surveys, focus groups and individual interviews. During data collection, participants will be asked questions about their experiences of using, or supporting a person with a disability to use Westfield Shopping Centre, Plenty Valley and what the participants believe could make that experience better. Scope researchers are being assisted by members of the Scope Community Group (Braybrook).

The Creating Inclusive Shopping Centres project findings will provide recommendations to Westfield shopping centre management regarding strategies around further inclusion of people with disability. It is envisioned that the work and the findings from this project will act as a catalyst for broader inclusion of other disenfranchised and disadvantaged groups within the City of Whittlesea such as those from a non-English speaking background, people with low literacy skills, and the elderly and frail.

This project is a partnership between Westfield and Scope. It is funded by ANZ Trustees.

Optimising Leisure Participation: Developing a model of intervention for youth and families when the youth has a physical disability

Scope is a partner in this project coordinated by La Trobe University, together with the Royal Children’s Hospital.

This project aims to trial a client-focused multidimensional intervention to promote active and pleasurable participation of young people who have a physical disability in activities outside school. The presence of a physical disability can lead to negative secondary disabilities including social isolation, reduced physical and mental health. Previous research shows that the leisure participation of children and youth with physical disabilities is reduced in frequency compared to other Australian children particularly their participation in physically active pursuits. 

Participation in physical activities is associated with long term health benefits and establishing patterns of active engagement in adolescence is important. Participation in activities such as music, or other community based groups also provide important opportunities for youth to develop skills, make friends and establish active involvement within their communities. Optimising the leisure participation of youth with disability is the goal of this study.

This project is part-funded by Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.

Shaping Policy

The 1 in 4 Poll

The purpose of this national research project is to increase understanding of the views and needs of people with a disability and their carers with a view to enhancing their capacity to influence social and political processes. The project involves developing a method that includes ongoing quarterly topical surveys through which people with a disability and their carers, approximately one in four Australians, can effectively participate in social and political processes. It will also test the efficacy of ‘influencing activities’ that derive from those surveys. Additionally, the project will establish a data set that will provide regular and reliable information from and about people with a disability in Australia. This is a unique and much needed contribution to social justice within Australia.

The project is an ARC Linkage funded activity undertaken between Scope and Deakin University’s School of Health and Social Development and School of Psychology.

The survey has been designed to be inclusive of as diverse a range of people with disability as possible. A number of innovations have gone into the design of the survey.

1 in 4 Poll website.

Equipping Inclusion

This work is being undertaken by the Aids and Equipment Action Alliance, which aims to provide an evidence base to support the case for policy reform and increased funding for assistive technology in Victoria. This research was initiated through Scope Research: Too little, too late. This led to foundation of the Aids and Equipment Action Alliance of which Scope is a founding and continuing member. This Alliance commissioned research in this area, undertaken by Dr Erin Wilson (Scope Adjunct Research Fellow) in her role at Deakin University, with colleagues.

This project is funded by the William Buckland Foundation.