Table 2.

Carer and provider-proposed solutions to address barriers to access

Solution Categories	Carer-preferred solutions	Provider solutions
ACCHS-based support	Provide education, workshops, information sessions, and support groups (especially for children with intellectual disability) for families	Grassroots-based; educating families and teachers on disability and available services; focus on prevention
	Opportunities for carers to speak with health professionals/service providers face-to-face (rather than computer or phone).	Work within a family-centred, flexible model, personal approach, holistic approach
	Collect accurate data on number of children in the community with disabilities to inform local and government strategies
Aboriginal Child Disability Support Workers	Need for a dedicated support worker/ Aboriginal Child Disability Worker with disability expertise - role in care navigation, health education, interpretation of medical jargon and liaison support with services	Work within a centralised, case manager model; explore other effective and acceptable models (including funding models) in urban Aboriginal populations
Increased flexibility	Increased flexibility and responsiveness of respite services	Minimise red-tape and rigid criteria, particularly during crisis; increase flexibility for Aboriginal families
School-based support	Utilise school data on Indigenous and disability status to ensure adequate resource distribution; facilitate linkages between other support agencies and schools	Increase awareness of disability and support available across professions and within communities; increase opportunity for network building across sectors
Contact Information	Routinely updated listing of services and contacts for support (general and disability- specific information; with consideration for child’s developmental stages)
Inter-sectoral partnerships	Partnerships between schools, parents, and community controlled organisations were also seen as strategies to enable access to services.