Table of Contents - Web viewdisability aCTION plan 2014-17. Department of State Growth. J. ......

Department of State Growth

DISABILITY ACTION PLAN 2014-17JANUARY 2016

1Department of State Growth

Table of Contents

Background...........................................................................................................

3

Organisational Context........................................................................................

Consultation..........................................................................................................

4

Resourcing.............................................................................................................

4

Monitoring and Reporting....................................................................................

Agency Action Plan: Key Areas............................................................................

Vision ...........................................................................................................

Action 1: Access to Services and Programs.......................................................

Action 2: Access to Employment Opportunities, Career

Development, Retention and Recruitment........................................................

Action 3: Access to Buildings, Facilities, Venues and Off-Premises

Events .........................................................................................................

Action 4: Access to Information (printed materials, websites, audio

and video) .........................................................................................................

More Information...............................................................................................

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Background

The National Disability Strategy 2010 – 2020 (the Strategy) is a ten year national policy for improving life for Australians with disability, their families and carers. The Strategy is the result of a nation-wide consultation process and was formally endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments on 13 February 2011.

The Strategy outlines the following six priority areas for action to improve the lives of people with disability, their families and carers:

1. Inclusive and accessible communities2. Rights protection, justice and legislation3. Economic security4. Personal and community support5. Learning and skills6. Health and wellbeing

As part of its commitment to the Strategy, the Tasmanian government developed the Disability Framework for Action 2013 – 2017 (the DFA) as a Whole of Government approach to policy and planning, service delivery and evaluation. The DFA sets out the Government’s vision for Tasmania as an inclusive and caring community and provides a direction for action by Government. It seeks to remove barriers and enable people with disabilities to enjoy the same rights and opportunities as all Tasmanians.

The DFA articulates a vision of a Tasmanian society that highly values and continually enhances the full participation of people with disability. Through the DFA, the Government has committed to a comprehensive rights-based social justice approach to disability. This social justice approach to disability builds on foundations developed over decades of international and national human rights activism and legislative change.

The DFA asserts that, like all Tasmanians, people with disability have the right to fully participate in and contribute to society. However, it recognises that social, economic, cultural and political barriers prevent people with disability from fully participating, contributing and achieving their potential.

The government plays a critical role in ensuring the removal of barriers to participation as well as recognising and promoting the human rights of people with disability. Broadly, the DFA describes the government’s responsibility as follows:

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Meaningfully consulting with people with disability, their families and carers to identify barriers to equitable access and participation in government programs, services, facilities and employment opportunities.

Enabling the meaningful participation of people with disability in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services.

Ensuring that all employees understand, respect, and have the practical resources to respond to the rights of people with disability.

The Premier takes ultimate responsibility for overseeing the implementation of the DFA. This is due to recognition of the level of leadership required to achieve the vision of the DFA across government.

The Disability Framework for Action requires each government agency, as part of their strategic and business planning, to prepare and submit a Disability Access Plan, documenting the way in which commitments specified in the Framework will be met.

Organisational Context

The Department of State Growth was established on 1 July 2014 with a mandate to help pursue jobs, growth and opportunities for all Tasmanians.

The department brings together some of the key economic drivers under one roof to ensure that they are being utilized in a coordinated and focused way to maximize growth outcomes.

These include functional areas previously located in the Departments of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts, the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources and Skills Tasmania.

Sport and Recreation Tasmania which was part of the former Department of Economic Development, Tourism and the Arts is now located in the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Consultation

This Action Plan takes account of feedback provided by members of the Premier’s Disability Advisory Council (PDAC) on the draft Agency Disability Action Plans of the former Departments. The previous Departments participated in workshops facilitated by PDAC.

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Resourcing

The initiatives identified in this plan are resourced within current organisational resources.The Agency Disability Action Plan Working Group will have a role in identifying additional initiatives which may be recommended to the Agency Executive for support.

Monitoring and Reporting

The Agency Disability Action Plan Working Group will oversee implementation of the DAP. The Group will meet quarterly and a progress report will be provided to the Agency Executive In June and November of each year for the life of the DAPState Growth will provide a report to PDAC on an annual basis and progress will also be reported in the Agency’s Annual Report.

Agency Action Plan: Key Areas

This Action Plan covers the following key areas.

Access to Services and Programs Access to Employment Opportunities, Career Development, Retention

and Recruitment Access to Buildings, Facilities, Venues and Off-Premises Events Access to Information (printed materials, websites, audio and video)

Vision

“All Tasmanians are able to contribute to and benefit from Tasmanian economic and social prosperity”

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Action 1:Access to Services and Programs

Where we are at:

We have already:Arts Tasmania Invested over $458 000 in 2011 – 2013 through Arts Tasmania’s

dedicated Arts and Disability program. This investment supported 35 projects – 19 organisations and 16 individuals with disability – across the state.

Adopted universal accessible formatting in an effort to break down barriers for improved participation, particularly people living with vision impairment or low level literacy capabilities.

Conducted workshops for disability service providers on copyright and moral rights for artists with intellectual disability and acquired brain injury.

Undertook networking forums for artists with and without disability in partnership with other industry stakeholders such as Ten Days on the Island, Creative Partnerships Australia and Arts Access Australia.

Delivered an Open Captions Initiative to enable theatre performances to be captioned via live broadband technology. This was undertaken in partnership with the Tasmanian Deaf Society (TasDeaf), Theatre North, Theatre Royal and Burnie Arts and Function Centre, Terrapin Puppet Theatre and Ten Days on the Island.

Profiled and promoted work created by artists with disability to expand wider audience interest in disability arts through stories on Arts Tasmania’s news-byte (circulation approximately 3 000), through Arts Access Australia and the Arts and Health Foundation e-news; and in the wider media.

Client Services Financially supported Oak Enterprises, an organisation that employs

people with disability, through a Tasmania Development Board loan Supported Oak Enterprises as part of our work with the Tasmanian

Social Enterprise Network. Provided no interest micro business loans to people who receive

Centrelink benefits, including disability support pensions. Captioned all Business Tasmania and Digital Ready videos and DVDs.

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Shared information relating to employee obligations in preparing and dispensing accessible materials.

Provided information to staff about the Disability Action Plan and the responsibilities of staff through the Accessibility Information Guide and appropriate use of language with regard to disability.

Passenger Transport Made wheelchair-accessible taxi licences available at no licence cost

in unlimited number Completed rollout of smart card technology for delivery of the taxi

fare subsidy scheme to increase convenience for Transport Access Scheme Members and the taxi industry.

Adopted a positive provision policy for accessible bus stops on State roads.

Skills Tasmania In 2015, Skills Tasmania revised its existing equity programs. The

2016 Training and Work Pathways Program represent a new approach to addressing disadvantage in VET, offering three separate streams to support innovation and quality in the delivery of VET and transition to employment for Tasmanians facing disadvantage.

This new structure allows for addressing the complexity of disadvantage, and recognises the importance of changing systems, rather than individuals. This new program will allow for investment in captivity building in the VET system to address barriers to learners with disability.

In 2014, Skills Tasmania funded a total of eleven projects to the value of $682,000 specifically targeting barriers to VET for people with disability through the Equity Support Program.

Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery Developed Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery (TMAG) gallery

interpretation style guidelines to improve the presentation of interpretive information for people with disability.

Partnered with UTAS Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre in research development.

Developed an object-based loan service for carer’s and service providers.

Offered tailored public programs to visitor groups, including school groups.

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Partnered with Detached Cultural Organisation in Outreach programs to U3A and Tasmanian Prison Service breaking down the barriers of broader physical and cultural disability issues.

Provided disability access to all TMAG galleries, courtyard and café with the installation of two lifts, ramps and sliding doors to all major entrances.

Provided sensory rich museum backpacks and Toolkits for general visitors.

We will continue to:Arts Tasmania

In October 2014, the Meeting of Cultural Ministers noted the efforts of jurisdictions to ensure Australia’s artistic landscape reflects and is inclusive of the lived experiences of our diverse community and released the National Arts and Disability Strategy Evaluation 2009-12. Ministers including Tasmania’s Minister for the Arts endorsed the evaluation’s recommendations and priority areas of action as a framework for continued focus.

Arts Tasmania will continue to support the four focus areas of the National Arts and Disability Strategy by:

encouraging people living with disability to apply to any of its programs

striving to ensure accessibility and equity for all applicants providing an accessible online resource and model Disability

Action Plan for arts organisations – see http://www.arts.tas.gov.au/resources

promoting and facilitating take-up of tools and standards designed to improve the accessibility of materials.

Client Services Offer no interest micro business loans to people who receive

Centrelink benefits, including disability support pensions and monitor the number of loans given to people with disability.

Work with Oak Enterprises through the Tasmanian Social Enterprise Network.

Passenger Transport Maintain an ongoing dialogue with the Anti-Discrimination

Commissioner and Guide Dogs Tasmania on matters concerning access to transport.

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http://www.arts.tas.gov.au/resources

Require all new vehicles for general access bus services to meet accessibility requirements consistent with the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act through contracts with operators.

Provide funding and support for special needs school bus services. Provide assistance to people who have a permanent and severe

disability through the Transport Access Scheme. Liaise with the National Disability Insurance Agency to provide

seamless transition for eligible members between assistance schemes.

Skills Tasmania Create Skills for growth by fostering flexible, high quality and

innovative VET opportunities for people with disabilities. Ensure access to wrap-around support services, aimed at reducing

barriers to access and participation in post-compulsory education. Develop evidence-based VET pathways for people with disability to

improve employment opportunities by developing real skills for real jobs.

Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery Work towards achieving WCAG 2.0 guidelines for all online material. Work towards making all information available in alternative formats

for people with disabilities.

Emerging issues: Arts Tasmania is considering opportunities to pursue alternative

models for support for arts and disability subject to the impact of budget management strategies on its operational capacity. Until these opportunities are clarified and capacity to support them confirmed, Tasmania cannot announce any particular program that continues to support the National Arts and Disability Strategy. However, organisations working in arts and disability are encouraged to apply to the new Organisations Investment Program announced by the Minister for the Arts in August 2014, and to all other Arts Tasmania programs.

How do we continue to develop employment pathway strategies to meet the evolving needs of people with disability in Tasmania in a competitive employment market?

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As part of the Tasmanian Government proposed review of legislation governing the operation of all taxis, hire cars and ride-sourcing activities, it will consider the impact that ride-sourcing services may have on the availability of transport for wheelchair-reliant passengers.

ActionsWhat we are going to do Performance

IndicatorWho (lead) By When

Investigate possible establishment (in consultation with PDAC and other relevant bodies) of a stakeholder group of business people with disability for consultation on the issues they face with regard to establishing or running a business in Tasmania. For example opportunities under NDIS

Stakeholder group established and feedback provided

Client Services

Group established by 30 June 2016

Feedback provided by 30 September 2016

Investigate alternative models for support for arts and disability subject to the impact of budget management strategies, in partnership with the arts and disability sector locally and nationally

Advice from the Tasmanian Arts Advisory Board to the Minister for the Arts for consideration.

Arts Tasmania

31 December 2015

Identify most effective approach to making information concerning access to events for people with disability available to Events Tasmania funding recipients. This will include consultation with members of the Premier’s Disability Advisory Council.

Approach identified and implemented.

Events Tasmania

30 June 2016

Complete the roll out of smart card technology for

Number of cards issued:

Passenger Completed

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the Transport Access Scheme.

Approx. 16,000.

Transport

Create improved conditions for the take-up of WAT licences outside the metropolitan centres.

Number of Remote Area and Temporary WAT licences on issue.

Passenger Transport

31 December 2016

Educate public transport drivers and operators on the requirements for carrying assistance animals

Internal taskforce recommendations implemented.

Passenger Transport / Registration and Licensing

30 June 2016

Develop educational material for people with disability who want to drive a car or ride a bike (e.g. brochure and internet)

People with disability have access to relevant information.

Registration & Licensing Services

31 December 2016

Improve access to and participation in, Vocational Education and Training (VET) for learners with a disability.

Number of Disability cohorts represented in Grant and Tender rounds.

Skills Tasmania

Ongoing

Improve the transition from VET to sustainable employment opportunities.

Reported employment outcomes, post VET completion of funded programs.

Skills Tasmania

Ongoing

Ensure support to people with disabilities to access and maintain participation in VET Equity Programs.

Progress and final program reports showing completion rates.

Skills Tasmania

Ongoing

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Build collaborative partnerships to increase post VET employment opportunities and work placements for people with disabilities.

Number of disability placements reported in programs.

Skills Tasmania

Ongoing

Ensure grant funding and procurement of VET Equity Programs align with disability access protocols.

Disability network meetings to review program design.

Skills Tasmania

Ongoing

Provide up to date information and advice on national VET Equity policy development to disability providers with a VET Equity focus.

Attendance in local and national disability networks.

Skills Tasmania

Annually

Undertake a feasibility study for the installation of an audio induction loop system (AILS) into the main public spaces of the museum to enable better access to audio stimulus for hearing aid users

Feasibility study completed

TMAG 30 June 2016

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Action 2:Access to Employment Opportunities, Career Development, Retention and Recruitment

The department values a diverse workforce with a range of community backgrounds and perspectives as we are aware this provides a broader range of ideas and insights to draw on in undertaking our work and delivering our services. To this end the department supports the view that people with disability have a right to compete for and work in mainstream or supported employment aided by reasonable adjustments where required. The department is fully committed to working to identify any barriers to career development and access to employment and addressing these where appropriate.

Where we are at:

We have already: Raised awareness and promoted the use of Fixed-term Disability

Employment Register to the People and Culture team and business unit managers.

Appointed Diversity Contact Officers to provide information and support on a range of issues, including disability, grievance resolution and anti-discrimination guidelines.

Participated in the Graduate Program for people with disability Conducted Disability Awareness sessions with staff and management

including Selection Panel training to design application and selection processes that consider potential issues for people with disability.

We will continue to: Look for opportunities to recruit people with disability and do it better

by:o Improving our recruitment practices to ensure there are no

barriers to employment and embrace the provision of reasonable adjustment to our work environments for employees with disability.

o Ensuring selection criteria are based on the inherent requirements of the job and avoid any direct or indirect discrimination in relation to disability.

o Ensuring expertise (advice/support/training) is available to existing employees with a disability and their managers.

o Increasing utilisation of the Fixed Term Disability Employment Register.

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o Promoting awareness of the Diversity Contact Officers and provide support and training to them as required.

Emerging issues: The current fiscal environment challenges our capacity to recruit new

employees. However we are confident that our current and future recruitment activities will continue to encourage people with disabilities to be a valued part of our workforce.

Review and update the Workplace Diversity Policy and Plan including Consideration of the youth and disability recruitment initiatives contained in the latest Public Sector Wages Agreement with the potential development of a Disability Recruitment Plan.

Improve information available to potential and existing employees by highlighting the Department’s flexible and supportive approach including making reasonable adjustments

Develop stronger relationships between the Agency and the Disability Employment providers


IndicatorWho (lead)

By When

Ensure People and Culture staff are skilled up in access and employment discrimination issues

Identify and undertake appropriate training opportunities.

People and Culture

30 December 2016

Write into performance agreements for senior managers responsibilities for Disability Action Plan actions

Incorporate in with the review of Statements of Duties and/or performance agreements.

People and Culture

30 December 2016

Review recruitment information and how we advertise to ensure it is inclusive to people with disability.

Statement of duties and associated recruitment materials reviewed

People and Culture

30 December 2016

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and modified where applicable.

Review selection processes and identify and address barriers for applicants with disability.

Selection procedures reviewed and modified where applicable

People and Culture

30 December 2016

Review recruitment practices to ensure staff involved in recruitment processes have a good understanding of the needs of people with disability including the concept of reasonable adjustment.

Recruitment packages reviewed and modified where applicable

People and Culture

30 December 2016

Review the induction package to ensure equity and diversity and disability awareness are included.

Induction package reviewed and modified where applicable

People and Culture

30 December 2016

Promote flexible work arrangements to assist people with disability and carers.

Promotion of flexible working options policy to all staff.

People and Culture

30 June 2016

Inspire cultural change amongst hiring managers, allowing people with disability greater access to job opportunities through raising the profile of the People with Disabilities Fixed-Term and Casual Employment Registers

Promote this register on iconnect and internal promotion undertaken.

People and Culture

Throughout the life of this plan

Assist hiring managers to Promotion of People 30 June

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http://www.jobs.tas.gov.au/notices/index.php?type=vacancy&id=36836



broaden their search for suitable candidates to include people with disability including the promotion of job vacancies to recruitment agencies who manage candidates with disability.

this via the department’s recruitment program / processes.

and Culture

2016

Improve opportunities for people with disability to gain work experience within the department.

Development of a work experience policy which includes opportunities for people with disability.

People and Culture

30 December 2016

Actively contribute to SSMO support initiatives for people with disability

Participate in Working Groups

People and Culture

Ongoing

Review statements of duties to focus on inherent requirements and ensure documents are consistently written in plain English.

Number of reviews completed.

People and Culture

Ongoing

Action 3:Access to Buildings, Facilities, Venues and Off-Premises Events

The department has a diverse property portfolio that includes offices to accommodate its approximately 800 staff. It is also the owner of large public venues that conduct events from in excess of 10 000 members of the public. Additionally the department does convene a number of off-site events for a wide variety of forums.

Where we are at:

We have already: Conducted access audits of departmental properties. Installed four automatic doors in the department’s head office.

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Modified a worksite to facilitate the employment of an employee. Provided the resources and undertaken measures required for

existing staff with disability, including completion of personal emergency & evacuation plans for hearing & mobility impaired staff and provision of parking for mobility impaired staff.

Included the need for disabled access and facilities in all planning for new facilities.

Undertaken significant planning to ensure accessible facilities are maintained within 10 Murray Street whilst the building is being impacted by the construction of Parliament Square.

We will continue to: Monitor the compliance of our worksites. Comply with workplace modifications as determined through

individual occupational assessments. Prioritise and allocate resources to address accessibility issues. Promote awareness of potential access issues to site managers. Ensure any leases are compliant with disability access and other

requirements under the DDA and BCA. Review all access and associated signage for disabled access to

ensure all existing office locations are access compliant and suitably signed.

Emerging issues: Resources to develop access policies to ensure worksites that are

frequented by the general public have clear, visible and considered approaches to providing access and assistance to people with disability.


IndicatorWho (lead) By When

Ensure that any off-site locations are accessible for people with disability. Provide full information in cases where full accessibility is not available.

Number of formal complaints cases against the department.

Manager Property and Facilities

31 December 2016

Educate and inform Promote all Manager Ongoing

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departmental staff about accessibility issues

completed actions to broader department.

Property and Facilities

throughout the life of this plan.

Compile an accessibility checklist for those booking events/meetings off-site.

Checklist completed and distributed.

Communications/Facilities

30 June 2016

Develop a schedule of potential work and costs relating to accessibility issues throughout all departmental buildings and determine annual priorities.

Develop a schedule of potential works and estimated costs.


Ongoing. Reviewed in January and July each year.

Update the Procurement Policy to ensure accessibility issues are considered when purchasing items, and the process for procuring from businesses that provide employment to persons with disabilities is highlighted.

Policy is updated and includes ICT procurement.

Manager Contract Services

30 June 2016

Ensure that correct signage is located at all offices directing those that need an alternative flat entry point into the office

All signage conforms


Ongoing

Continue to work with staff to provide suitable equipment and a safe access and facility environment

Annual Review of facilities and access arrangements


Ongoing

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Action 4:Access to Information (printed materials, websites, audio and video)

The department is involved in the production of a broad range of material in a variety of formats. This includes brochures, flyers, posters, speeches, websites, videos, DVDs and television and online campaigns.Some are designed to explain the work done by the department to the general public. Others are prepared for specific audiences or stakeholders to give them detailed information on a service or initiative that is relevant to them.It is important to make sure that the language used is not overly complicated so it can be understood by as many readers and viewers as possible.The Tasmanian Government has developed a strategy called 26TEN to help address literacy and numeracy issues in Tasmania and has published a guide to plain English to assist writers.The Australian Government has put in place a requirement for all government websites and web content to meet strict rules making them accessible to as many people as possible.Following these guidelines will make content more accessible to a wider range of people with disabilities, including blindness and low vision, deafness and hearing loss, learning disabilities, cognitive limitations, limited movement, speech disabilities, photosensitivity and combinations of these.The department is undertaking a variety of steps to make it easy for everybody to access to information. We have instigated projects, have set up new work processes that reinforce and enable the agency’s compliance with government policies and acts, and are participating in whole of government workgroups.

Where we are at:

We have already: Led by example with key staff attending Tasmanian Government

training sessions on the use of plain English. Required DVDs and videos on our website to have subtitles to ensure

accessibility for the hearing impaired.

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Required printed documents to have a minimum font size and avoid colour combinations that make them difficult to read in particular by those with colour blindness.

Required all printed material to also be available on our website. Used images or graphics instead of text where possible. Selected images for use in publications that promote social inclusion. Ensured 100 per cent of our web content is accessible and meets AA

WCAG 2.0 compliance. Instigated an accessibility and web compliance project to ensure all

sites are compliant by December 2014 and that compliance is maintained.

We will continue to: Be advocates for 26TEN training sessions to promote staff

attendance. Move away from using PDF files on our website. Promote awareness of accessibility issues in staff newsletters and on

department’s intranet and encourage staff to lead by example and promote high standards.

Maintain the content on the website to ensure that it remains compliant.

Emerging issues: A growing need to ensure a broad range of people can access the

department’s communications. Requirement to meet Australian Government web content standards

by the end of 2014.


IndicatorWho (lead)

By When

Educate staff as to the requirements of WCAG 2.0 level AA that will soon come into force. This should provide detail about the rules, and how they have been developed to improve

Meet federal requirements.

Web Services

31 December 2014

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access to information for people with disability. Staff will be trained in how to write documents or text that can be translated by an electronic reader.

Consider the audience when preparing any documentation and use plain English.

Ongoing monitoring

% of documents in plain English.

Corporate Communications

Ongoing

Identify appropriate training course to encourage the use of plain English suitable for each target audience – participation in this training should be encouraged and attended by managers.

Train relevant staff and record number of staff who have completed course.

Corporate Communications

31 December 2016

Support the creation of plain language educational and support materials in relation to VET targeted at persons with disabilities, their families, and their caregivers.

Number of resources available / usage rates of these resources

Skills Tasmania

Ongoing

Mandate captioning in all audio-visual materials produced using Skills Tasmania program funds.

% of resources captioned

Skills Tasmania

Ongoing

Continue to work towards the highest standards of web accessibility for all Skills Tasmania program material.

% of program documentation that meets WCAG 2.0 AA standard

Skills Tasmania

Ongoing

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Web accessibility Departmental websites fully WCAG 2.0 level AA compliant.

Web Services

Ongoing

Review and update the department’s Web Publishing Policy Guidelines and change these to ensure that procedures are in place to check all content for accessibility prior to being published to any sites

Web Services

Ongoing

Assess all websites against WCAG 2.0 AA standard and repair accessibility barriers

0 per cent of errors located in web content published by business units (outside of Web Services post Dec 2014

Web Services

Completed

Conduct an audit of web publishers and ensure all are trained to understand accessibility issues and develop content that is accessible by all

Web Services / Communications

Ongoing

Instigate an ongoing content development and management project that focuses on the continual development of content for accessibility.

Web Services / Communications

Ongoing

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More Information

For further information about the Department of State Growth Agency Disability Action Plan 2014-2017please contact:

Director People and CultureDepartment of State GrowthPhone (03) 6166 3304Email: [email protected]

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