Accessible Island – Outcome areas and actions

We will:

1.1

Conduct appraisals to monitor the compliance of our buildings with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cwth) (DDA) and relevant provisions of the Building Code of Australia.

1.2

Take account of access requirements in the internal layout of Service Tasmania service centres through relocation to new sites in Devonport and Launceston and an upgrade of the Hobart premises.

1.3

Enhance the accessibility of the services and supports provided by the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE).

1.4

Ensure new building works and upgrades at the Tasmanian Prison Service meet building requirements for disability, unless an exemption is necessary for security reasons.

1.5

Provide reasonable workplace modifications for employees with disability as identified through individual occupational assessments (see also Action 3.4)

1.6

Promote the Tasmanian Government Accessible Events Guidelines and Checklist to agencies and event organisers in receipt of Government funding.

1.7

Ensure off-premise events are accessible.

We will:

1.8

Promote the universal design principles in procurement for public and social housing.

1.9

Build 500 new social housing homes with accessible features including 300 disability-specific units of accommodation with disability features that exceed the Minimum Standards for Social Housing.

1.10

Upgrade the public housing portfolio to meet the needs of people with disability and an ageing population, with at least 60 properties to be realigned.

1.11

Adopt a long-term asset management approach to upgrade and replace properties with smaller homes that have accessible design features to support people with disability to live independently.

We will:

1.12

Require all new vehicles for general access bus services to meet accessibility requirements consistent with the DDA through our contracts with operators.

1.13

Provide funding and support for specialist school transport.

1.14

Support affordable transport options through the Transport Access Scheme, which includes Australian Disability Parking permits and the Taxi Subsidy Scheme.

1.15

Assist people who have a permanent and severe disability through the Transport Access Scheme.

1.16

Liaise with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to provide seamless transition for eligible members between transport assistance schemes.

1.17

Work with the Anti-Discrimination Commissioner and Guide Dogs Tasmania to ensure access to transport for assistance dogs.

1.18

Support regional authorities to develop transport solutions based on cross-industry, community and government consultation, to meet the needs of local communities with a focus on rural areas.

We will:

1.19

Support people with disability, their families and carers to build and strengthen supportive networks within the community.

1.20

Ensure government volunteering programs and opportunities are accessible to people with disability and align with national volunteering guidelines. Raise awareness of the capacity and contribution of people with disability as volunteers.

1.21

Ensure access and inclusion for all people across all Department of Education settings.

1.22

Continue to support the four focus areas of the National Arts and Disability Strategy by:

• encouraging people with disability to apply to any of its programs;
• ensuring accessibility and equity for all applicants;
• providing an accessible online resource and model Disability Action Plan for the Arts; and
• promoting and facilitating take-up of tools and standards designed to improve the accessibility of materials.

We will:

1.23

Build working relationships with disability organisations and service providers to provide information and advice on disability issues. This will inform service delivery and policy development and provide a feedback mechanism for people with disability.

1.24

Consult with people with disability on the design and implementation of Tasmanian Government policy and legislation.

1.25

Develop a whole-of-government procurement framework that includes comprehensive accessibility criteria for ICT procurement.

1.26

Ensure State Planning Policies guide the location of development based on proximity to health and community services, the surrounding transport network, residences and community use areas (e.g. parks).

1.27

Promote Parks for All People: Access for the mobility impaired in Tasmania’s National Parks and Reserves, to encourage Tasmanians and visitors to enjoy Tasmania’s National Parks.

1.28

Establish a DPIPWE Disability Reference Group to engage people with disability and draw upon their expertise in planning, developing, implementing and reviewing inclusion initiatives and to ensure these actions are sustained.

1.29

Work with Tasmanian Government statutory authorities, state owned companies and government business enterprises to achieve the outcomes of Accessible Island.

1.30

Engage with disability enterprises to ensure awareness of business development services and programs delivered through the Department of State Growth. Take advice from stakeholders about the relevance and accessibility of the programs and assistance on offer.

We will:

1.31

Develop a Tasmanian Government strategy for digital innovation and ICT that will take into account the need to ensure government digital and ICT services are accessible by customers and staff.

1.32

Collaborate across government to share lessons learned and ensure a consistent approach in the maintenance, rebuild and design of intranet and internet sites.

1.33

Work towards achieving WCAG 2.0 guidelines for all online material.

1.34

Undertake a pilot, at DPAC, of an online WCAG 2AAA compliant HTML service that allows for the streamlined production of accessible content on screen readers and consistent reading template for mobile devices.

1.35

Improve readability of our information by:

• continuing to build on organisational capability by offering both Plain English and Easy Read training opportunities and tools for web content and document authors;
• reviewing the accessibility of online forms; and
• working towards making all Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery information available in alternative formats for people with disability.

1.36

Develop eLearning materials to educate staff on the importance of providing accessible information, tools and resources for people with disability.

1.37

Continue to use and monitor the Emergency Management Framework for Vulnerable People to assist in the development and maintenance of emergency management arrangements that:

• consider and prioritise the essential needs of vulnerable people before, during and after an emergency; and
• enable service providers to readily identify, locate and communicate with vulnerable people in an emergency.

1.38

Ensure all Tasmanians have access to emergency preparedness resources by:

• continuing the translation of the TasALERT website into AUSLAN and other languages; and
• expanding the number of languages available and ensure TasALERT provides the best information in the most appropriate format.

We will:

2.1

Coordinate and monitor the implementation of measures outlined in the Disability Justice Plan for Tasmania 2017-2020. This will include the:

• Department of Justice (DoJ) (including the Victims Support Service, Magistrates and Supreme Courts, Mental Health Tribunal, Office of Director of Public Prosecutions, Corrective Services (Tasmania Prison Service and Community Corrections) and Legal Aid);
• Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management (DPFEM);
• Department of Health; and
• Tasmanian Health Service (THS).

2.2

Report annually to PDAC on the implementation of the Disability Justice Plan for Tasmania 2017-2020.

We will:

2.3

Provide effective responses from the criminal justice system to people with disability who have complex needs or increased vulnerabilities.

2.4

Improve support for people with an intellectual disability, cognitive impairment or mental illness in, or at risk of entering, the criminal justice system, and on leaving it.

2.5

Maintain and strengthen protections and supports for people with disability who experience, or are at risk of experiencing, violence, sexual assault, abuse and neglect.

2.6

Ensure people with disability have the opportunity to participate in the civic life of the community – as jurors, board members and elected representatives.

2.7

Support independent advocacy to protect the rights of people with disability.

We will:

2.8

Further the relationship with NDIA and service providers to ensure that prisoners with disability are provided with the support they require post-release.

2.9

Review the Tasmanian Prison Service’s Director’s Standing Order in relation to prisoners with disability.

We will:

2.10

Review the Tasmanian Disability Services Act 2011 to:

• assess operational effectiveness;
• ensure congruence with relevant legislation; and
• reflect contemporary practice.

2.11

Promote and support the Tasmanian Disability Services Regulations 2015 through the Regulations 2015 – Compliance Project to:

• help service providers understand the regulations, how to comply with them and where to target continuous improvement activities; and
• target future sector training and resources to assist providers with readiness for full scheme NDIS.

We will:

2.12

Ensure DPFEM trainees, front-line police officers, investigators and Fire Service officers understand disability and all forms of vulnerability and are able to respond appropriately to people with disability.

2.13

Review DPFEM policies and procedures for people with disability to ensure these are contemporary, relevant and conform to legislative requirements. The reviews will be informed by consultation with people with disability.

2.14

Maintain a register of disability service providers for use by DPFEM employees and for emergency reference use within the call and dispatch areas.

We will:

2.15

Provide agencies with:

• support to interpret, implement and report on Tasmania’s obligations, including under the CRPD; and
• advice on any action required by the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with a Disability.

We will:

3.1

Implement theTasmanian State Service Diversity and Inclusion Policy and Framework 2017-2020 and develop specific plans in each Agency.

3.2

Facilitate stronger relationships and identify placements in collaboration with Disability Employment Service providers.

3.3

Build an inclusive and diverse workplace by:

• developing an online resource to support all applicants to access information about applying for State Service jobs; and
• working with agencies and community groups to identify barriers and initiatives/opportunities to support people with disability who are working or wish to work in the State Service.

3.4

Work with agencies to:

• roll out the Workplace Adjustment Policy Template;
• access training and other tools to increase awareness of unconscious bias and inclusive leadership;
• improve awareness and use of flexible work across the State Service;
• include workforce diversity outcomes as a component of the performance management of senior leaders; and
• improve the ability of Human Resource systems to collect self-identified workforce diversity data to support workforce planning and reporting.

3.5

Develop an online e-learning package for all State Service employees to improve their awareness of the ways to support people with disability in the workplace and when conducting government business.

3.6

Establish an annual stakeholder survey for community and agency stakeholders to provide feedback on progress of the Diversity and Inclusion Framework and propose new initiatives.

We will:

3.7

Seek opportunities to collaborate with local government, business and the not-for-profit sector to share our experience and identify new opportunities.

3.8

Release the Mental Health Best Practice Framework for workplaces in Tasmania.

3.9

Continue to support the National Disability Services JobsABILITY and BuyAbility initiatives.

3.10

Consider the findings of the Council on the Ageing Tasmania Recruiting for Life project on ways to improve participation in the workforce, and to promote age-diverse and inclusive employment and workplace planning practices.

We will:

3.12

Consider recommendations from the Australian Law Reform Commission in relation to powers of attorney, and continue to educate people about guardianship and power of attorney issues.

We will:

4.1

Support the transition of eligible participants to the NDIS, and ensure:

• bilateral participant intake targets are met; and
• continued provision of quality and safe services for clients of specialist disability services in accordance with the Quality Assurance and Safeguards Working Arrangements during the transition to a Full Scheme NDIS.

4.2

Promote continuous improvement and sector workforce development by:

• managing the implementation of four statewide Commonwealth Sector Development Fund projects;
• maintaining a consultative approach and partnerships with the sector during reforms; and
• implementing the review of Disability and Community Services workforce structure to support transition to the NDIS.

4.3

Undertake an independent review of children’s therapy services in Tasmania with a view to:

• ensuring that children and young people with disability and their families have access to universal and specialist therapy services so that opportunities for developing and learning are optimised within the child’s environment and the community.

4.4

Work in collaboration across government during the transition to the NDIS.

• Current cross-agency work priorities are the review of transport arrangements and development of nationally consistent NDIS worker screening.

We will:

4.5

Work with the Tasmanian Aboriginal community and disability services to better understand service issues, improve data collection and service delivery for Tasmanian Aboriginals with disability.

4.6

Work with culturally and linguistically diverse communities to ensure people with disability can access culturally responsive government services.

We will:

4.7

Pursue opportunities to support and promote mental health of Tasmanians and help reduce stigma under Rethink Mental Health, Better Mental Health and Wellbeing: A Long-Term Plan for Mental Health in Tasmania 2015-2025.

We will:

4.8

Implement the Tasmanian Carers Policy 2016 and Action Plan 2017-2020.

We will:

4.9

Make the application process for a Companion Card easier by offering on-site assessments for disability support services, support schools and aged care service providers that support large numbers of people with a life-long disability.

We will:

5.1

Provide support for the transition of students from school into post-school education, training or employment for people with disability.

5.2

Implement a range of programs and initiatives to address the key priority areas as outlined in the Ministerial Taskforce Report into Education for Students with Disabilities. These reforms will assist all Tasmanian Government schools to:

• be disability ready and responsive;
• improve continuously through high quality teaching and learning;
• work with communities in partnership; and
• align resources to inclusive education practice.

TasTAFE will:

5.3

Promote TasTAFE’s obligations under the DDA (including the Disability Standards for Education 2005) and the specific needs of students with disability.

5.4

Ensure that suitability, selection and enrolment procedures do not discriminate against people experiencing disability, and lead to applicants being selected into suitable courses.

5.5

Provide and promote opportunities to disclose disability throughout the student lifecycle.

5.6

Provide specialist staff to coordinate support for students with disability.

5.7

Provide a comprehensive range of supports and reasonable adjustments that lead to learning and assessments which are fair, flexible, valid and reliable for students with disability.

5.8

Build strong connections with schools and colleges to better support students at the point of transitioning to post-school options.

Skills Tasmania will:

5.9

Create Skills for Growth by fostering flexible, high quality and innovative VET opportunities for people with disability.

5.10

Ensure access to wrap-around support services, aimed at reducing barriers to access and participation in post-compulsory education.

5.11

Develop evidence-based VET pathways for people with disability to improve employment opportunities by developing real skills for real jobs.

We will:

6.1

Work with sport and active recreation providers and disability service organisations to develop, support and promote opportunities for Tasmanians with disability to participate in sport, recreation and physical activity.

We will:

6.2

Support the implementation of the Healthy Tasmania Five Year Strategic Plan. Healthy Tasmania has four priority areas: smoking; healthy eating and physical exercise; chronic condition screening and management; and community connections.

6.3

Support all Tasmanians to live healthier lives through coordinated care for people suffering chronic disease under the Healthy Tasmania Five Year Strategic Plan.

6.4

Deliver health and wellbeing programs to State Service employees, including Mental Health First Aid courses.

We will:

6.5

Strengthen health care planning, training and the capacity of universal health care providers to diagnose and treat the health conditions of people with disability.

6.6

Ensure a strong interface between disability services and THS, including hospitals and primary health services, to respond to the needs of people with disability and provide comprehensive, accessible and flexible services.

6.7

Work with services to improve access to coordinated health, community care and disability services.

6.8

Establish new and enhanced services under the One Health System reforms for geriatric services, palliative care and rehabilitation services.

We will:

6.9

Further develop the evidence base for the social and environmental determinants of health and ensure it informs the development and implementation of programs and policies.

6.10

Ensure key public health strategies meet the needs of people with disability, such as:

• dental programs;
• nutrition and physical activity programs;
• mental health; and
• drug and alcohol and sexual and reproductive health programs.