Australian implementation and evaluation of active support

<b>Background </b>The implementation and evaluation of Active Support in Australia is reported, the first such formal evaluation outside the UK.<br /><br /><b>Method </b>Residents and staff of five group homes participated. Active Support was introduced by training staff in one home at a time. Effectiveness was assessed using direct observation of resident engagement in activity and of staff help, as well as written assessments of resident outcomes.<br /><br /><b>Results </b>Staff help and resident engagement increased in four of five group homes. There was significantly greater participation in a wider variety of domestic activities, as well as more frequent and varied community participation. Change in resident engagement was positively related to change in staff help, but not related to residents' level of adaptive behaviour.<br /><br /><b>Conclusions </b>Most of our findings were consistent with earlier UK studies. There was evidence of the successful transfer of Active Support training skills to an Australian training team. Nonsignificant trends towards reduced depression and increased adaptive behaviour warrant further investigation.<br />