identity in a time of change

Opinion: Change is upon the social sector – but we can’t just busy ourselves with NDIS readiness projects. The Not for Profit sector needs to wrestle with questions of identity to keep what’s important and be willing to change the rest, writes innovation consultant Dale Renner. (first published in Pro Bono News)

With the impending arrival of individualised funding (consumer directed care) in disability, aged care and mental health, social organisations are in the midst of reform and readiness projects to make the operational changes required. But in all the sound and fury of the busyness, issues of fear, change and identity are ever present.

Not for Profits have some reason to fear these changes. In the UK, which has implemented individualised funding, 78 per cent of aged care residential beds are now provided by the private sector, with 58 per cent of these run by large corporate providers (Grant Thornton UK 2014).

While there are some differences, this points to the direction of change – increasing numbers of commercial organisations and small firms winning business in social markets. And while there will be teething problems, with some people missing out during the changes, service users are clearly demanding the ability to make choices about their services. This demand will continue to drive change.

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