The Lifetime Support Authority (LSA) delivers the Lifetime Support Scheme (LSS), which was established under the Motor Vehicle Accidents (Lifetime Support Scheme) Act 2013 (SA) (the Act).

Through the LSS, the LSA funds necessary and reasonable treatment, care and support for people who sustain serious injuries in a motor vehicle accident on South Australian (SA) roads, regardless of fault. The services are focused on being person-centred, financially sustainable, innovative and efficient.

The LSA takes a ‘person-centred’ approach to ensure the LSS participant is at the centre of everything we do. This means that LSS participants, family and friends play an active role in their rehabilitation. This includes the choice of service providers, monitoring progress towards personal goals and outcomes to enhance the quality of life and be given the opportunity to participate and contribute to their own social and economic life.

The LSA commenced operations on 1 July 2014 and is a statutory authority governed by an independent Board of Directors and a Chief Executive.

The LSA administers the LSS in accordance with the Act and the LSS Rules which outlines the eligibility criteria and how treatment, care and support needs are assessed.

The functions of the LSA under Section 16 of the Act include:

• delivery of LSS
• support and funding for research, education and programs
• review of the LSS Rules
• disseminating information about the LSS
• management of the LSS Fund.

The LSA is committed to:

• achieving and delivering a financially responsible and sustainable Scheme, so it can continue to support people over the course of their lives and be available to people who are not yet injured but may be in the future
• providing necessary and reasonable treatment, care and support through a person-centred approach to enable participants to enhance their quality of life and to provide opportunities to participate and contribute to social and economic life
• respecting the individuality and diversity of participants.