Are You Proactive With Your Client’s Health?
How CHAP Tools Are Transforming Health Outcomes in Supported Independent Living
In Supported Independent Living (SIL), the health and wellbeing of people with disability must be more than a reactive concern, it should be a proactive priority. The Comprehensive Health Assessment Program (CHAP) is a powerful tool designed to help disability support providers do just that: take charge of health before problems arise.
So, what is CHAP and why should it be part of your everyday practice?
What Is CHAP?
CHAP is a structured, evidence-based tool that guides disability support workers and health professionals through a comprehensive annual health assessment for people with intellectual disability. It’s designed to identify health issues early, support better communication with GPs, and ensure that health needs are actively managed, not overlooked.
Why It Matters
People with disability are at higher risk of poor health outcomes, including chronic disease and premature death from preventable causes
Many experience multiple health conditions—such as epilepsy, poor nutrition, and mental health challenges—without receiving timely or appropriate care.
This is often due to:
- Communication barriers
- Diagnostic overshadowing (where symptoms are misattributed to the disability)
- Limited access to health services
- Social and lifestyle factors like isolation or poor housing
CHAP helps bridge these gaps by ensuring health assessments are thorough, person-centred, and collaborative.
Benefits of CHAP in SIL Settings
For clients living in SIL, CHAP offers a structured way to:
- Detect health issues early—before they escalate
- Improve communication between support workers, families, and GPs
- Empower clients to participate in their own health care
- Meet NDIS requirements for monitoring health, safety, and wellbeing
- Reduce avoidable hospitalisations and deaths
It’s not just about ticking a box, it’s about saving lives.
How to Get Started
Implementing CHAP doesn’t have to be complex. The NDIS Commission and sector guides offer practical steps for:
- Preparing for assessments
- Engaging with GPs and families
- Identifying follow-up actions
- Embedding CHAP into your organisation’s health monitoring systems
Final Thought: Proactive or Reactive?
Ask yourself: Are we waiting for health problems to appear—or are we actively working to prevent them?
With CHAP, you can be confident that your team is taking a proactive, person-centred approach to health care—one that respects the rights of people with disability to live healthy, fulfilling lives.
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