In undertaking its Inquiry, the Committee considered eight key areas relevant to the social inclusion of Victorians with disability. Chapter Discusses 1. Defining disability and social inclusion What is ‘social inclusion’? What does it mean for people with disability? And how should it be measured? How can we know over time if the interventions put in place are effectively increasing people's feelings of inclusiveness? 2. Leading the social inclusion agenda In a context in which responsibilities for assessing and funding disability support are transitioning across governments, who holds responsibility for leading the social inclusion agenda? 3. Aspirations and social inclusion What do people with disability themselves aspire to in the context of social inclusion? What are their goals and ambitions? Do they have opportunities to pursue them? 4. Sustainable relationships and networks Social inclusion is more than merely being present or passively participating. It is about social connectedness, relationships and natural networks. How can people with disability increase their social capital through their connections? 5. Foundations to social inclusion There are core foundations to achieving social inclusion for all members in the community. How do people with disability secure the core foundations for social inclusion, including good health, quality supports, financial security, access to justice, and safe, affordable and secure housing? 6. Contributing and participating People with disability make valued contributions to Victoria’s economic, social and cultural life. What needs to happen to ensure there are new and ongoing opportunities to meaningfully participate in education, employment and other activities? 7. Accessibility People with disability continue to experience daily barriers to accessing transport, the built environment and information that can facilitate their opportunities to contribute, engage and feel included. How can these barriers be effectively removed? 8. Changing attitudes and behaviours Negative attitudes towards disability persist in the community and have consequences for how people treat and interact with people with disability. Low expectations, avoidance, discrimination and hostility result in exclusion and non-meaningful participation. How can attitudes be changed to improve the ways that communities interact with people with disability?
Table 2.3: Disability plans and framework of other Australian jurisdictions State Disability plan Broad strategic directions Australian Capital Territory Future directions: Challenge 2014 Vision: All people with disability achieve what they want to achieve, live how they choose to live, and are valued as full and equal members of the ACT community. A person with disability should be able to: • be recognised as an individual and for their capabilities • live life like other people their age. New South Wales Stronger together: A new direction for disability services in NSW Places efforts on: • families (enabling children and young people with disability to grow up in a family and participate in the community). • Count me in … promoting community inclusion (supporting adults with disability to live in and be part of the community). • Improving the system’s capacity and accountability (fairer and clearer ways to access services with greater accountability and more opportunities for innovation). Queensland Disability plan 2014–19: Enabling choices and opportunities Priorities for change: • Support people with disability and communities to be well informed and confident about what the NDIS means for them. • Support people with disability, families and carers to exercise choice and take up opportunities. • Support non-government disability service providers to operate in a competitive market-based environment. • Develop a skilled and strong workforce. • Prepare Queensland Government departments to transition disability funding and services to the National Disability Insurance Agency. • Enhance mainstream services and facilities to enable genuine choice and participation in all areas, including education, employment, health, justice services and housing. • Promote genuine participation in the community.
185 Submission S087, Carers Victoria, p.2. 186 Submission S059, VALID (Victorian Advocacy League for Individuals with Disability Inc), p.11. 187 Submission S102, Noah’s Ark, p.3. 188 Submission S064, Manningham City Council, p.4. 189 Submission S037, Whittlesea Disability Network, pp.3–4. 190 Submission S064, Manningham City Council, p.4. 191 Submission S037, Whittlesea Disability Network, pp.3–4.
193 Submission S034, Geelong Parent Network, p.2. 194 Submission S037, Whittlesea Disability Network, pp.3–4. 195 Submission S037, Whittlesea Disability Network, pp.3–4. 196 Submission S111, Melbourne City Mission, p.22.
Type Progress Concerns identified critical to ensuring visually impaired or blind passengers could successfully navigate rail infrastructure and access conveyances. Buses Metro: The Bus Replacement Program has resulted in 1,421 low-floor buses and had achieved 75 per cent compliance with the Transport Standards. All low-floor buses have manual ramps fitted that can be deployed by the driver. These buses meet requirements for priority seating, allocated spaces and manoeuvring. Regional: Approximately 49 per cent of the 554 buses that operate in regional towns and rural areas of Victoria are accessible and meet compliance requirements. The Bus Replacement Program will increase the number of low-floor accessible buses in regional areas over time. For regional coach services operated by V-Line, 56 per cent of the total fleet of 103 coaches are accessible and meet the requirements of the Transport Standards. The biggest accessibility challenge for passengers of coach services is the on their ability to use aids on these Intermittent availability of low-floor accessible buses. Inability of people with mobility aids to board buses and coaches. Problems experienced by the vision impaired and blind in flagging down buses in motion. Lack of driver understanding of the needs of people with disability. Allocated space on accessible buses being used by bicycle owners and passengers without disability. Bus infrastructure Metro: Access to bus infrastructure is around 52 per cent of the 17,961 bus stops. Regional: Access to bus infrastructure is around 52 per cent of the 6,136 stops. Progress falls short of the 2012 compliance milestone. However, there have been 10,000 upgrades to bus stops including the installation of tactile ground surface indicators, access paths and surface upgrades. Trams 100 low-floor accessible trams are in operation in Melbourne’s tram fleet of 487 cars. The 2012 compliance targets have not been met and compliance is currently around 23 per cent.