Provision of a Needs Assessment Tool and Independent Assessments for Disability Support for Older Australians Program

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing requires the services of an organisation that has a Needs Assessment Tool for conducting Independent Assessments for the Disability Support for Older Australians (DSOA) Program.The DSOA Program supports older people with disability who receive specialist disability services from the Continuity of Support (CoS) Programme, but who are ineligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the outputs calculated by the Needs Assessment Tool will be used to work out DSOA clients’ support package. Using the Needs Assessment Tool, the successful organisation will also be required to provide Independent Assessments. Independent Assessments must be conducted by an allied health professional.The outcomes of the Independent Assessment will be detailed in an assessment report, a copy of which is provided to the Disability Support for Older Australians client. The successful organisation must have a multiskilled needs assessor workforce and ensure assessors have the relevant accreditation.The successful organisation will also be required to train assessors on the Needs Assessment Tool and knowledge of Disability Support for Older Australianspolicies and services.