The Ministerial Implementation Committee on Head Injury (MICHI) identified in 1993 the specific and different needs of people with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and high levels of dependency. The ABI Case Management Service and the ABI Behavioural Consultancy Service were established to support these people. In addition, a study was commissioned by the Department of Human Services (DHS) to investigate the slow stream rehabilitation and long term care needs of those people with catastrophic brain injury. This led to the pilot and subsequent development of the Acquired Brain Injury:Slow To Recover (ABI:STR) Program by the Department between 1996 and 1998. Following a competitive tender process the ABI:STR Program was transferred to the auspice of Southern Health in 1998.

The ABI:STR Program is designed to assist those people who have experienced catastrophic brain injury who are not in receipt of compensation and who require high-level care such as that provided in a residential aged care facility with long-term support. The statewide program is managed by Southern Health and delivered through external contracted case management agencies and contracted attendant carers and therapy providers.

Good practice in human service programs includes periodic program evaluation and review to ensure services are meeting the needs of consumers and are being managed and operated in an efficient manner. Accordingly, the Department of Human Services commissioned an evaluation of the ABI:STR Program to review the management and administration processes and service and client outcomes. Given the program had been in operation for seven years and developed a comprehensive history and track record of service delivery, the review was both timely and important to the future and strategic direction of the program.