Area for future action 6.2. At the review points of the National Healthcare Agreement, other national health agreements and health-related national partnership agreements, parties agree to consider including strategies consistent with the Strategy and performance indicators to ensure they address the health needs of people with disability in all age groups. review processes will take into account feedback and input, both formal and informal, received over the life of the agreements. The table below provides an outline of the National Disability Strategy secretariat’s work plan in relation to the review of national agreements and national partnerships. Table 1: Reviews of national agreements and national partnerships What will be achieved When it will occur Who has responsibility Who will contribute Identification of review points February 2012 Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Relevant Australian Government agencies Assist in identifying strategies and performance indicators for people with disability February 2014 Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs State and territory disability officials, disability champion ministers Report to disability ministers on changes to agreements and partnerships February 2014 Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Relevant Australian Government agencies Contribute to report to Council of Australian Governments on progress Mid–2014 Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Relevant Australian Government agencies Disability champion ministers Community and Disability Services ministers are responsible for driving the implementation of the National Disability Strategy. Ministers from mainstream portfolios such as Housing, Health, Childhood Education, Education, Justice and Transport have been invited to take a strong national leadership role to support implementation of the Strategy. They have also been invited to act as champions for disability issues within their particular sphere of influence and responsibility. During 2011, the Chair of the Standing Council on Community and Disability Services invited the Chair of each Standing Council to nominate ministers willing to take on the role of disability June June
What will be achieved When it will occur Who is responsible Who will contribute Establishment of the National Disability Strategy Implementation Reference Group September 2012 Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Selected council members and representative organisations Focus groups with people with disability and feedback from their representative organisations Part of the evaluation Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs People with disability and their representative organisations Meetings of National People with Disabilities and Carer Council Three meetings per year Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs National People with Disabilities and Carer Council members Meetings of the National Disability Strategy Implementation Reference Group Three meetings per year Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Selected council members and other disability representatives Meetings of disability officials and chairs of jurisdiction disability advisory bodies One meeting per year Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs State and territory disability officials and disability advisory body chairs Disability ministers national Every two years from 2014 Development Officials Working Group People with disability, representative organisations and other stakeholders, and disability ministers Embedding change through national areas of cooperation In addition to individual state and territory government disability plans, there are many actions underway at the national level, either in partnership with jurisdictions or Australian Government initiatives that have national reach. The Strategy sets out six policy outcomes supported by key policy directions. It identifies fiftythree areas for future action across these policy outcomes and directions. Appendix 1 outlines the current and proposed national of cooperation that represent governments’ initial commitment to improving the lives of people with disability.
Area for future action 1.4. Promote the development of Disability Access Facilitation Plans by airlines and airport operators to improve communication between operators and passengers with disability. Action 1.4.1. Development of disability access facilitation plans Why is this important? Accessibility at airports and airlines is a major concern for people with disability and can impact on their participation in air travel. What will it do? Several airlines and airports are publishing disability access facilitation The plans are intended as a communication tool between airline and airport operators and the travelling public on the availability and accessing of services for passengers with disability—ideally covering the total travel experience from making a reservation through to arriving at the intended destination. The plans may include information such as: the services and facilities on aircraft or in airport terminals procedures for transporting mobility aids and assistance animals the extent of direct assistance available to passengers with disabilities advice to passengers on ways to work with airline and airport operators to meet specific contact details to assist passengers with disabilities to provide feedback on the travelling experience. Responsibility The Australian Government Department of Infrastructure and Transport has responsibility. How will it be done? A dedicated government, industry and consumer working the Aviation Access Working Group, has been established to consider a range of issues affecting disability access to aviation services, such as airport terminal facilities, cabin safety matters, and travelling with mobility aids. The Australian Government is encouraging all airlines and airports to develop disability access facilitation A number of domestic airlines and airports and some international carriers have now published their plans and other plans are currently under development. Stakeholder participation Disability advocacy organisations, the Australian Rights Commission, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and airport and airline operators participate in the Aviation Access Working Group.
Carers Australia and autism advisers in each state and territory register eligible children and provide key information and assistance to families for both Better Start and Helping Children with Autism. Success indicators The percentage and number of individuals, parents and carers who report they were assisted to access choices and options that enabled them to manage their needs and the percentage and number of clients reporting that the services were appropriate to their needs as parents and carers will indicate the success of this action. Area for future action 4.7. Collaborate with providers of universal personal and community support services to improve access for people with disability. Action 4.7.1 Implementation of the Australian Government new Family Support Program Why is this important? Targeted support services for families and children are essential to prevent poor outcomes and vulnerable families do not access such services. What will it do? Families with adults or children who have a disability are regarded as having multiple and/or complex needs and considered a priority for Family Support Program services, particularly where there is a high unmet need. To give effect to the government’s expectation, all Family Support Program services were required to agree to an individual Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Access Strategy with the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs by 30 June 2012. The Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Access Strategy is intended to help service providers identify the most vulnerable and disadvantaged families in the local areas they service and how they can work more effectively with key stakeholders to offer more holistic service responses. Actions committed to in the Vulnerable and Disadvantaged Access Strategy should address the access barriers experienced by families who have a or parent/carer with disability. This can be at an organisational level or through actions that aim to foster or strengthen relationships to enable more linked approaches to be developed. The Accessibility Services Standard requires funded providers to deliver services that ensure their sensitivity and accessibility to any people who face a real or perceived barrier to receiving assistance. It also requires providers to ensure the buildings they operate from are accessible to people with disability. Responsibility The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs has responsibility for progressing this action.
National Healthcare As required with agreement of all parties NA National Education (NEA) As required with agreement of all parties NA Skills and Workforce Development 2011 NA National Disability As required with agreement of all parties NA National Affordable Housing (NAHA) As required with agreement of all parties NA National Indigenous Reform (NIRA) As required with agreement of all parties NA National partnerships National partnerships Review period Expiry date Elective Surgery Waiting Lists NA 31 December 2011 Productivity Places Program (PPP) No later than 30 June 2010 30 June 2012 Childhood Education (ECE) After the first 18 months 30 June 2013 Nation Building and Jobs Plan (NBJP) 2010 31 December 2012 Remote Indigenous Public Internet Access (RIPIA) 2010–2011 30 June 2013 E-Health By 30 June 2011 30 June 2012 Hospitals and Health Workforce Reform July 2011 30 June 2013 Improving Public Hospital Services By 31 December 2013 30 June 2017 Homelessness Council of Australian Governments review three years after commencement (2011–2012) Brought forward mid-term review to be completed by August 2011 30 June 2013 Closing the Gap in the Northern Territory 2011–2012 30 June 2012 Smarter Schools – Literacy and Numeracy Before expiry 31 December 2012