BANYULE DISABILITY ACTION PLAN 2014/15
Contents
Summary:
Background:
Development of DAP 2014/15
Demographic Background
National & State Policy Context
Banyule City Council Policy Context
Conclusion
BANYULE - DISABILITY ACTION PLAN 2014/15
GOAL 1: Health and Wellbeing
GOAL 2: Community Participation
GOAL 3: Economic Participation
Summary:
The Disability Action Plan (DAP) outlines Council’s commitment towork towards building a strong and inclusive community that welcomes and values the contributions of all its citizens.
The DAP identifies issues and barriers that people with a disability, their families and carers face in accessing Council services and participating in community life and includes proposed actions to address these barriers. Importantly the DAP also responds to Council’s obligations to support the inclusion of people with a disability as required bythe Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA), the Victorian Disability Act2006 and the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006.
The 2014/15 DAP is an interim 12 month plan that includes projects and actions that will be implementedwhilst a longer term plan is developed in partnership with local organisations and the community.
Background:
Council’s previous Disability Policy and Action Plan (DAP) 2009-2013 has expired. A review of the policy and action plan implementation has been conducted and found 92% of actions have been completed or are currently being implemented. Additionally it was noted that Council business units generally had a strong appreciation and understanding of their need to comply with disability standards and the consider people with a disability in their core work. The review of the previous DAP outlined areas for future work including promoting and advertising of the good work Council already does, for example: the tools available for residents with hearing impairments to participate in Council meetings, and projects such as the Liveable Housing project.
In addition to promoting the current work of Banyule City Council, the review suggested that future DAPsinclude greater focus on inclusion and mainstreaming inclusive processes. As acknowledged by several of Council’s business units,the consideration of people with a disability is often due to an ‘unconscious awareness’ rather than a systematic approach. This ‘unconscious awareness’ needs to be purposefully placed in processes and checklists across Council, so that disability does not accidentally get overlooked. There is also a need for Banyule City Council to consider ease of access for people with a disability. This would be classified as ‘social inclusion’ and relates to how people with a disability feel welcome and encouraged to easily participate in community activities.
Development of DAP 2014/15
The Victorian Disability Act 2006 requires Councils to have a current DAP. The interim DAP 2014/15 allows Council to meet this requirement. The development of the DAP 2014/2015 has involved:
- an analysis of the previous DAP and status of implementation;
- an examination of the current policy environment;
- engagement with Banyule City Council staff to identify outstanding or new actions; and
- identification of links with existing Council strategies, such as the Council Annual Business Plan.
The interim DAP 2014/2015 has also been developed using Banyule City Council’s new Inclusion Access and Equity Framework (IAEF). The IAEF provides a consistent approach and methodology to supporting Council’s diverse communities. The actions of the 2014/15 DAP have been organised under the three Goals of Council’s IAEF:
- Health and Wellbeing
- Community Participation
- Economic Participation
The other plans includedunder the IAEF are the
- Multicultural Action Plan
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Action Plan
- Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Transgender & Intersex (GLBTI) Action Plan.
Demographic Background
Banyule City Council is home to 124,475 people[1]with approximately 20% of residents’ self-reporting that they have a permanent or long term disability[2]. This equates to approximately 24,895 residents with one or more forms of disability such as physical, hearing impairment, blindness, psychological, intellectual or acquired brain injury. Of the total population in Banyule, 4.8% (5,624) of people report experiencing a disability that requires assistance to conduct their core activities.
National & State Policy Context
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is the new way of providing community access and individualised support for people with permanent and significant disability, their families and carers. It is a collaborative process between the Federal and State/ Territory governments and it is progressively being rolled out at trial sites around Australia. The implementation of the NDIS will impact Banyule residents and have a potential impact on Banyule City Council services.
‘Living Longer Living Better’was the plan released by the Gillard federal government in April 2012 to address Aged Care Reform. Many parts of the proposed reforms are still under development/ consideration. Banyule City Council is a key provider of home and community care (HACC) services for older people and some people with a disability. The Aged Care Reforms will impact the future delivery of HACC services. Banyule City Council need to be aware of how these changes will impact Council resources in the delivery of these services. The Aged Care Reforms will also impact residents, be it an older person, person with a disability, carer or family member.
The Victorian Disability Act (2006) requires local governments to develop a Disability Action Plan that works towards:
- reducing barriers to persons with a disability accessing goods, services and facilities;
- reducing barriers to persons with a disability obtaining and maintaining employment;
- promoting inclusion and participation in the community of persons with a disability;
- achieving tangible changes in attitudes and practices which discriminate against persons with a disability.
TheDisability Discrimination Act (1992) and the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act (2006), also require Councils to protect the rights of people with a disability and reduce barriers and discrimination facing people with a disability.
The MetroAccessprogram is a partnership between the State Government and local Councils that aims to build inclusive communities. The Banyule MetroAccess Community Building Plan 2012-2015 outlines information gathered from people with a disability, disability services and community organisations in Banyule. It alsoprovides the context for the way the Banyule MetroAccess initiative will respond to the local community priorities as well as broader priorities identified in the Victorian State Disability Plan 2013-2016.
Banyule City Council Policy Context
City Plan 2013 - 2017
The DAP clearly articulates Council’s commitment to achieving good health and wellbeing for people with a disability. The objectives of the DAP are clearly aligned to the commitments of Banyule’s City Plan 2013 – 2017 and associated policy and strategy documents.
Inclusion Access and Equity Framework (IAEF)
Council’s IAEFis an overarching document which provides a consistent approach and methodology to supporting Council’s diverse communities. This Interim DAP, as well as future planning for people with a disability, will take into account the Banyule IAEF along with any other government requirements.
The IAEF is based on three goals: Good Health & Wellbeing; Community Participation; and Economic Participation. Council works towards achieving these goals for diverse communities through coordinated service delivery across three key areas:
- Inclusive Service Delivery.
- Support of local services to be available and inclusive, and advocacy on important issues for diverse communities.
- Building inclusive and equitable communities that value and celebrate diversity, through opportunities for engagement, connection and celebration.
Conclusion
The DAP 2014/15 has been developed based on a review and evaluation of Council’s previous DAP 2009 – 2013 and responds to Council’s obligations contained in Victorian Disability Act (2006), Disability Discrimination Act (1992) and the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act (2006). The DAP 2014/15includes a series of short term actions andprojects that have been agreed to by units across Council and will be implemented while the long-term DAP is established.
Disability Action Plan 2014/15Page 1
BANYULE - DISABILITY ACTION PLAN 2014/15
GOAL 1: Health and Wellbeing
Good health and wellbeing is desired by all members of the community. Health and wellbeing includes more than just the absence of illness. Health and Wellbeing are influenced by a range of factors and includes having access to a range of health and wellbeing services and programs.
Council has a role to provide certain services that relate directly to health and wellbeing but other services and programs are provided by a range of agencies and services. Council acknowledges that Health and Wellbeing also includes addressing issues and barriers not directly labelled as health such as Community Participation and Economic Participation. Reaching the goal of Health and Wellbeing requires a range of approaches and partners. Council will achieve its goal to improve health and wellbeing for people with a disability through:
- Being and inclusive organisation and developing and providing inclusive Council Services and practices;
- Supporting local services to be available and inclusive, and advocating on important issues for diverse communities; and
- Contributing to building inclusive and equitable communities.
Approach 1. Being an inclusive organisation and developing and providing inclusive Council services and practices.
Actions: / Service Unit / Responsible Officer
Plan and deliver sustainable aged and disability services in line with HACC guidelines, to support people live independently at home. / Health & Aged Services / Manager Health & Aging
Playground Strategy - Finalise Playground Strategy and address accessibility outcomes. / Leisure & Cultural Services / Manager, Leisure & Cultural Services
Continue to implement and expand Council’s Liveable Housing Project to improve residential housing accessibility. / Development Services / Manager Development Services
Develop the 2015-2019 Disability Action Plan ready for Council adoption. / Community & Social Planning / Team Leader Community & Social Planning
Approach 2. Supporting local services to be available and inclusive, and advocating on important issues for diverse communities.
Action: / Service Unit / Responsible Officer
Advocate (to Government and key organisations) for improved outcomes for people in Banyule who are aged and/or have a disability services (i.e. Community Transport, Commonwealth Aged Care Reforms and National Disability Insurance Scheme) / Health & Aged Services / Manager Health & Aging
Monitor Household Survey and Census reports for access issues and actions to be further addressed. / Community & Social Planning / Team Leader Community & Social Planning
Participate in MAV advocacy work and submissions related to disability issues. / Health & Aged Services / Manager Health & Aging
HACC Reforms - Keep abreast of the latest information in relation to the roll out of the Commonwealth Aged Care Reforms and National Disability Insurance Scheme to ensure a clear understanding of impacts on the Banyule community and to enable Council to prepare and plan for the future. / Health & Aged Services / Manager Health & Aging
Approach 3. Contribute to building inclusive and equitable communities.
Action: / Service Unit / Responsible Officer
N/A
GOAL 2: Community Participation
Community participation is strongly connected to health and wellbeing and includes being able to be involved in all aspects of community life and connect with others. It is well established that people with a disability can experience barriers in being involved fully in community life due to a range of factors including inaccessible built environments and the negative and discriminatory behaviours and attitudes of others. Council will achieve its goal to improve community participation for people with a disability through:
- Being an inclusive organisation and developing and providing inclusive Council Services and practices;
- Supporting local services to be available and inclusive, and advocating on important issues for diverse communities; and
- Contributing to building inclusive and equitable communities.
Approach 1. Being an inclusive organisation and developing and providing inclusive Council services and practices.
Action: / Service Unit / Responsible Officer
Community engagement technology - Investigate technologies to enable effective community engagement. / Community & Social Planning / Team Leader Community & Social Planning
Develop a prioritised plan for the expenditure of annual budget from the Access Works program. This will also include an update to the 10 Year Capital Plan with details as advised by the Project Owner. / Leisure & Cultural Services
Assets Management / Manager Leisure & Cultural Services
Assets Co-ordinator
Approach 2. Supporting local services to be available and inclusive, and advocating on important issues for diverse communities.
Action: / Service Unit / Responsible Officer
Ensure that people with disabilities can equitably access Council Meetings and participate in the decision making processes. / Governance Info & Laws / Governance & Information Co-ordinator
Include a section on compliance with the disability access standards within the redevelopment of the Council’s Communication Plan / Communications / Communications Co-ordinator.
Approach 3.Contributing to building inclusive and equitable communities.
Action: / Service Unit / Responsible Officer
Continue to implement the MetroAccess Community Building Plan in line with Department of Human Services State Disability Plan. / Youth & Family Services / Youth & Family Services Co-ordinator,
Develop Terms of Reference and establish a Disability Reference Group. / Community & Social Planning / Team Leader Community & Social Planning
GOAL 3: Economic Participation
Economic participation is crucial to health and wellbeing. Having access to workforce participation impacts greatly on access to other essential services and opportunities. Council is a large employer who can play a role in increasing the economic participation of people with a disability. It is also important for Council to be able to work alongside other organisations and partners to increase pathways to employment and economic participation. Council will achieve its goal to improve economic participation for people with a disability through:
- Being an inclusive organisation and developing and providing inclusive Council Services and practices;
- Supporting local services to be available and inclusive, and advocating on important issues for diverse communities; and
- Contributing to building inclusive and equitable communities.
Approach 1. Being an inclusive organisation and developing and providing inclusive Council services and practices.
Action: / Service Unit / Responsible Officer
Training to be conducted with specific Service Units on inclusion and access for people with a disability. / Human Resources / Workforce Development Support Officer Human Resources.
Ensure the strategic direction for Activity Centre Structure Plans and public places meets access compliance. / Strategic Planning / Manager Strategic Planning
Approach 2. Supporting local services to be available and inclusive and advocating on important issues for diverse communities.
Action: / Service Unit / Responsible Officer
HACC Reforms - Keep abreast of the latest information in relation to the roll out of the Commonwealth Aged Care Reforms and National Disability Insurance Scheme to ensure a clear understanding of impacts on the Banyule community and to enable Council to prepare and plan for the future. / Health & Aged Services / Manager Health & Aging
Approach 3.Contributing to building inclusive and equitable communities.
Action:N/A / Service Unit / Responsible Officer
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[1]Id. (2013) Community Profile
[2]Banyule City Council (2011) Household Survey by Metropolis Research