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Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (2018-2020)Department of Communities

Copies of the DAIP will also be available upon request in alternative formats, such as hard copy format in both large and standard print, electronic format by email and on the Department of Communities’ website, and audio (cassette or compact disk).

Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2018-2020

Table of contentsForeword.............................................................................................................................1

Department of Communities.............................................................................................1

Abbreviations and definitions...........................................................................................1

Snapshot – People with disability in Western Australia.................................................1

Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2018-2020.............................................................1

Development of the DAIP 2018-2020................................................................................1

Responsibility for implementation....................................................................................1

Communicating the DAIP..................................................................................................1

Reporting on the DAIP.......................................................................................................1

Strategies to improve access and inclusion in 2018-2020.............................................1

Outcome 1...........................................................................................................................1People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to access the services

of and any events organised by Communities...........................................................1

Outcome 2...........................................................................................................................1People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to access the buildings

and other facilities of Communities............................................................................1

Outcome 3...........................................................................................................................1People with disability receive information from Communities in a format that will enable

them to access the information as readily as other people are able to access it.......1

Outcome 4...........................................................................................................................1People with disability receive the same level and quality of service from the staff of

Communities as other people receive from the staff of Communities........................1

Outcome 5...........................................................................................................................1People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to make complaints to

Communities..............................................................................................................1

Outcome 6...........................................................................................................................1People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to participate in any

public consultation by Communities...........................................................................1

Outcome 7...........................................................................................................................1People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to obtain and maintain

employment with Communities..................................................................................1

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ForewordI am pleased to present the Department of Communities’ first Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (2018-2020).

The plan outlines our disability access and inclusion priorities for the next two years. It identifies strategies to provide an accessible and inclusive environment for our employees and customers with disability. It will provide the opportunity to extend access and inclusion plans to encompass a wider population and inform broader social policy.

As our former agencies merged to become the Department of Communities, it was clear that our fundamental purpose was always about enabling people, families and communities to be the best they can be.

Our collective focus is on providing person-centred services that achieve better and more connected outcomes. This focus has informed our tagline ‘People, Place, Home’. These words summarise the essence of why we exist and why our work is important to all Western Australians.

This plan enables us to create inclusive and accessible communities that enable social, economic and cultural prosperity. By collaborating we will create pathways that enable individual, family and community wellbeing. This plan assists us to empower people to feel valued and live fulfilling lives.

Extensive consultation with internal and external stakeholders was undertaken to develop this plan. The feedback we received, as well as the views and aspirations of those consulted have been incorporated.

We will apply these DAIP strategies to our day-to-day operations, including the way in which we deliver programs and services. These initiatives range from improving the service awareness of frontline staff to the needs of people with disability, to identifying and implementing methods to improve employment outcomes for them – initiatives that strive to provide opportunities for all members to fully participate in a social, cultural and economic life in our community.

These strategies will be strengthened by further educating our employees, embedding what works well in our daily practice and continuously monitoring and evaluating our progress.

By living our purpose every day, the Department of Communities will work towards best practice in ensuring access for people of all abilities.

We look forward to working collaboratively with our customers and stakeholders to achieve our access and inclusion goals.

Grahame SearleDirector General

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Department of CommunitiesAt Communities, the concept of People, Place, Home describes the essence of why we exist, and why our work is important to all Western Australians. We provide services to a diverse range of people, including people with disability, children who are in the legal care of the State and those who need a place to call home.

Our purpose is to create pathways that enable people, family and community wellbeing. We do this by focusing on our five outcome areas:

empowered people – with valued roles and fulfilling lives

inclusive and accessible communities – that enable social, economic and cultural prosperity

safe children – to enable a good start to life

strong families and kin – to provide safe and nurturing environments

a place to call home – that provides a secure foundation for life.

Communities was established on 1 July 2017 as part of a series of Machinery of Government changes to the Western Australian public sector. Communities amalgamates the functions of several former agencies and their components, including:

Department for Child Protection and Family Support

Department of Housing (including Housing Authority)

Disability Services Commission

the communities component of the Department of Local Government and Communities

Regional Services Reform Unit

the regional coordination and engagement component of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

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Abbreviations and definitionsDisability (from the Disability Services Act 1993):

(a) which is attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, cognitive, neurological, sensory, or physical impairment, or a combination of those impairments; and

(b) which is permanent or likely to be permanent; and

(c) which may or may not be of a chronic or episodic nature; and

(d) which results in —

(i) a substantially reduced capacity of the person for communication, social interaction, learning or mobility; and

(ii) a need for continuing support services.

DAIP stands for Disability Access and Inclusion Plan. DAIPs assist public authorities to plan and implement improvements to access and inclusion across seven outcome areas regarding services and events, buildings and facilities, information, quality of service, complaints, consultation processes and employment.

Communities – the Department of Communities.

Recipient refers to all people who receive services or supports from Communities.

Machinery of Government changes occur when a government decides to change the way government responsibilities or functions are managed. It can involve the movement of functions, resources and people from one agency to another.

Carer refers to a person who provides ongoing care or assistance to a person with disability outside of both community work or a formal contract or agreement.

Alternative formats can include but are not limited to written, electronic and face-to-face communication.

Accessible events, services and information consider the needs of all people, including but not limited to physical access requirements, visibility and ease of communication.

Inclusive practices and policies are designed to identify and remove barriers, such as physical, communication and attitudinal, which hamper individuals' ability to have full participation in society, the same as all other members of the community.

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Snapshot – People with disability in Western AustraliaFigures issued by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) show that the number of Australians with disability is increasing. There are currently 4.3 million Australians with disability, which is nearly one in five people (18.3 percent of the total population).

The ABS survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC, 2015) estimates that there are 362,700 persons with disability living in Western Australia (WA) (14.6 per cent of the total population). Of these, approximately 101,600 people have profound or severe core activity limitation.

Core activities include:

self-care – such as bathing or showering, dressing, eating, toileting

mobility – such as moving around at home and in the community, getting into or out of a bed or chair, bending and picking up an object from the floor, and using public transport

communication – understanding and being understood by others, such as strangers, family and friends.

In the 2016-17 financial year, the Disability Services Commission delivered funding and support to more than 26,000 people throughout WA.

It is estimated that there are 201,700 carers for people with disabilities in WA. Thirty-four per cent (68,000) of carers are primary carers – a person providing informal assistance for people with disabilities. Communities recognises the valuable contribution that those who provide care to people with disability make to the lives of those for whom they care. Unfortunately, this can often impact on the carer’s ability to remain engaged in the community, participate in the workforce and stay healthy.

In WA, 56.5 per cent of people with disability are participating in the workforce, in contrast to 85 per cent of the population without disability. This results in a weekly median income of less than half of those with no reported disability and a higher level of housing stress. Communities acknowledges the importance of employment for people with disability and has implemented a range of strategies to allow people with disability the same opportunities to obtain and maintain employment with the Department.

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Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2018-2020The Disability Services Act 1993 requires all local government and selected state government agencies to develop a DAIP to assist in the promotion of access and inclusion of people with disability. Following the formation of a new agency or authority, the requirement is that a DAIP is lodged within the first 12 months of its existence.

Generally, a DAIP is developed to represent a five-year period; however, given the opportunity to extend access and inclusion plans to encompass a wider population and inform broader social policy, Communities’ Corporate Executive agreed to the development of an initial two-year DAIP.

The inaugural Communities DAIP includes the functions of several former agencies and their components, including:

Department for Child Protection and Family Support

Department of Housing (including Housing Authority)

Disability Services Commission

the communities component of the Department of Local Government and Communities

Regional Services Reform Unit

the regional coordination and engagement component of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

Communities’ first DAIP builds on the progress and achievements of the former agencies and provides the framework for the implementation of strategies and initiatives to ensure continued accessibility to information, facilities and services. Communities will use this DAIP as the blueprint to strive for the highest standards in access and inclusion and to set an example for others to follow.

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To assist in this process, we are committed to the following seven desired outcomes of the DAIP:

1. People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to access services and events organised by Communities.

2. People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to access buildings and other facilities of Communities.

3. People with disability receive information from Communities in a format that will enable them to access the information as readily as other people are able to access it.

4. People with disability receive the same level and quality of service from the staff of Communities as other people receive from the staff of Communities.

5. People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to make complaints to Communities.

6. People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to participate in any public consultation by Communities.

7. People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to obtain and maintain employment with Communities.

Development of the DAIP 2018-2020The development of the DAIP and the subsequent implementation plan involved the establishment of a working group with representation from each division of Communities.

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The Working Group undertook a review of its respective former agencies’ DAIPs to identify good practice across Communities and as a basis for the development of the draft DAIP.

The following consultation was undertaken to help inform the DAIP:

all staff survey

targeted external consultation with service providers

targeted internal consultation with staff with disability

consultation with the community.

The Disability Services Act Regulations set out the minimum consultation requirements for public authorities in relation to DAIPs. State government agencies must call for submissions by notice in a state newspaper and any website maintained by or on behalf of the state government agency.

An advertisement was taken out in the West Australian newspaper inviting the community to make comments via Communities website.

Other legislation, strategies and frameworks that were considered as part of the development of the DAIP include:

WA Equal Opportunity Act 1984

Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act 1993

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Substantive Equality Policy Framework

WA Language Services Policy.

Responsibility for implementationImplementation of the DAIP is the responsibility of all Communities staff, volunteers, agents and contractors. An internal staff plan will be developed to assist in the implementation of the DAIP strategies, detailing specific actions, timeframes and responsibilities. The implementation plan will be reported on annually to assess Communities’ progress against the strategies.

The Disability Services Act 1993 requires Communities’ staff, organisations, contractors and agents to conduct their business in a manner consistent with the DAIP. It requires contractors and agents to take all practicable measures to ensure that relevant outcomes are implemented. Any agents or contractors used by Communities will be advised of the DAIP through learning and development training sessions. Organisations contracted with Communities are required to submit a DAIP report on an annual basis.

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Communicating the DAIPAvailability of the endorsed DAIP will be promoted in the following ways:

a notice in The West Australian newspaper

Communities’ website

made available to employees on Communities’ intranet and promoted via internal communication channels

electronic versions distributed to internal and external stakeholders who were involved in the development of the DAIP.

Copies of the DAIP will also be made available upon request in alternative formats, such as hard copy format in both large and standard print, electronic format by email and on the Department of Communities’ website, and audio (cassette or compact disk).

Reporting on the DAIPThe DAIP will be formally reported on each year in the Annual Report. In addition, Communities will submit a report to the Inclusion Division of Communities by 30 June each year to satisfy legislative requirements. Delegated officers within Communities will monitor and report on the implementation of DAIP strategies and update the Implementation Plan as required.

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Strategies to improve access and inclusion in 2018-2020Communities’ strategies relating to specific DAIP outcomes are informed by the review of previous DAIPs and implementation plans, and extensive consultation. Feedback received through the staff survey, a targeted consultation session with external stakeholders, discussions with employees with disability and feedback from the public were all instrumental in the development of these strategies.

Communities is committed to continually improving access and inclusion for people with disability, their families and carers. Our intention is to offer an equal level of service to all people, provide accessible events and facilities, consult with people with disability to help ensure that barriers to access and inclusion are identified and appropriately addressed, and ensure that staff, agents and contractors work towards the desired access and inclusion outcomes in the DAIP.

The following strategies will guide the activities that Communities will undertake from 2018-20 to improve access to our services, buildings and information. It provides a framework to strive towards the highest standards in access and inclusion and set an example for others to follow.

Outcome 1People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to access the services of and any events organised by Communities. Enlist an independent evaluator to review progress made on the DAIP and make

recommendations for improvement.

Plan, design, promote and deliver events in such a way that they are inclusive, accessible and responsive to individual, community and stakeholders’ needs.

Ensure that staff, volunteers, agents and contractors are aware of, and comply with, the requirements of the DAIP and further accessibility, equity and inclusiveness.

Develop and implement flexible strategies to improve access to services for people with disability, their families and carers.

Ensure timely strategies in response to feedback about access to services and events from people with disability, their families and carers, employees, key stakeholders, contractors and volunteers.

Outcome 2People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to access the buildings and other facilities of Communities. Ensure, where possible, that buildings and their amenities used by Communities are

located to maximise ease of access and to promote inclusion within the community.

Ensure, where possible, that Communities’ buildings and facilities are physically accessible and maintained to maximise ease of access for people with disability.

Ensure timely implementation of feedback about access from employees, visitors, key stakeholders, contractors and volunteers.

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Promote the accessibility of Communities’ offices and facilities to the public, employees, key stakeholders, contractors and volunteers.

Outcome 3People with disability receive information from Communities in a format that will enable them to access the information as readily as other people are able to access it. Ensure the provision of information for all people with disability complies with the

guidelines as detailed in the State Government Access Guidelines for Information, Services and Facilities.

Ensure publications and relevant printed materials and documentation are available in alternative formats and accessible to people with disability.

Review the availability of accessible information, develop alternative formats and promote the availability of information to staff and community members.

Outcome 4People with disability receive the same level and quality of service from the staff of Communities as other people receive from the staff of Communities. Provide disability awareness learning and development activities, such as mentoring,

across Communities and for new employees, including contractors, as part of their induction/orientation process.

Improve staff and contractor awareness of disability, substantive equality and access options through learning and development.

Ensure Communities’ policies and practices are inclusive, equitable and address the needs of people with disability.

Provide alternative methods to enable recipients of services to contact Communities.

Outcome 5People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to make complaints to Communities. Ensure Communities’ complaints procedures are flexible, receptive and made available

in accessible formats.

Monitor and measure trends in complaints and Communities’ performance, including corrective actions, review of services, risk management and improvements in complaints processes, to ensure continuous advancements in access and inclusion.

Track prevalence of disability types and tailor complaints process accordingly.

Report on our complaints process and performance in handling complaints in the Annual Report.

Outcome 6

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People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to participate in any public consultation by Communities. Ensure that the needs of people with different communication requirements are met by

consultation strategies.

Ensure information regarding consultation is available in alternative formats for people with disability, upon request.

Ensure policy and service design and delivery planning include actions that increase opportunities for people with disability, their families and carers to engage with Communities in respect to significant issues affecting, or reasonably likely to affect, them.

Provide disability awareness learning and development activities, including mentoring, across Communities and for contractors/facilitators to ensure people with different communication needs can participate effectively in consultation.

Outcome 7People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to obtain and maintain employment with Communities. Foster a respectful, equitable and diverse culture, where staff with disability feel

welcomed, through increasing staff awareness and celebrating success.

Identify leaders, champions and mentors as visible advocates for change.

Continue to develop innovative strategies to improve the attraction, recruitment, development and retention of employees with disability.

Promote the use of work design and technology as a tool to improve the work options for employees with disability.

Provide appropriate learning and development, mentoring and assistance to staff and selection panels on how to communicate with and assess the suitability of people with disability who are job seekers.

Support and promote the direction and strategies included in the Public Sector Commission’s “See my Abilities: An employment strategy for people with disability”.

Increase the percentage of staff with disability who are employed by Communities and support the performance and development of people with disability.

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