Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2017-2022 - Proposed
Department of Finance, Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2017-2022 20
Contact us
The Department of Finance welcomes your feedback. If you wish to make any comments or suggestions about our Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP), please contact us.
Phone: (08) 6551 1000
National Relay Service: 133 766 or 1800 555 677
Email:
Mail: Locked Bag 11, Cloisters Square WA 6850
Website: www.finance.wa.gov.au
This plan is available upon request in alternative formats upon request, including in electronic format by email, in hard copy format in both large and standard print, in audio format on compact disc and published on the Department’s website.
Document control
Document Title / Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP) 2017-2022File No. / Doc No.
Version Number / Final draft / Version Date / 15 June 2017
A message from the Director General
The Department of Finance’s Disability and Access Inclusion Plan (DAIP) is our commitment to providing equality of access, opportunity and participation for people with disability, their families and carers.
As a provider of services critical to the function of Government and in providing important community building projects, the Department is mindful of its role in ensuring its facilities and services are accessible and inclusive. In its role as a central agency, the Department takes this opportunity to model a high standard in this area for others to follow.
This Plan builds on our previous success in this area, elevating the promotion of access and inclusion to our stakeholders, and continuing to raise employee awareness of matters impacting those with a disability and how to address specific needs.
By fostering an inclusive and non-discriminatory work environment we strive for a workplace where our employees draw on their varied backgrounds and experiences to deliver superior services and projects to all Western Australians.
Anne Nolan
Director General
Department of Finance
Department of Finance, Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2017-2022 20
Contents
The Department of Finance 5
Purpose 5
Other Legislation 5
Our Progress 6
Our Commitment 6
Development of the DAIP 6
Consultation 7
Promotion 7
Review and Evaluation 8
Acknowledgement 8
Outcomes and Strategies 9
Outcome 1 9
Outcome 2 11
Outcome 3 13
Outcome 4 15
Outcome 5 16
Outcome 6 17
Outcome 7 18
Key Roles 19
Department of Finance, Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2017-2022 20
The Department of Finance
The Department of Finance (the Department) is a central government agency established on 1 July 2011.
We are a policy and service-oriented organisation with a wide range of customers. These include first home buyers, taxpayers, construction companies, government suppliers, and other government agencies.
We provide facilities and services to the public through the provision of physical, social and economic infrastructure. Our services assist other agencies to operate efficiently, make best practice decisions, and deliver value-for-money outcomes for West Australians.
Purpose
One in every seven Western Australians experiences disability.[1] Another one in twenty cares for a person with disability. This means that one in every five Western Australians may need support to access the services the Department provides.
The Department is committed to a progressive approach to disability access and inclusion. The Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP) meets two main goals:
· It provides a framework to accommodate the needs of people with disability when providing services to or for the public or our staff; and
· It fulfils the requirements under the Disability Services Act 1993.
This Plan sets out responsibility for each action, with the DAIP Committee to guide the overall implementation of the plan and report to senior management on its progress.
Other Legislation
The Department actively seeks to meet its legislative obligations under the following laws and treaties:
· Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (WA)
· Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth)
· United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Our Progress
Since the implementation of the first DAIP in 2012, the Department has introduced a range of strategies and initiatives to support equitable and full access and inclusion for staff and those who access our facilities, services and information. This progress includes:
· Accessible ramps, automatic doors for staff access, and braille on lifts at Optima.
· Upgrades to access at QBE House, including more accessible toilets and redesigning lift keypads to improve accessibility.
· Ongoing improvement of Department websites toward the Website Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2) Level A.
· Developing a Disability Awareness eLearning module to educate staff on disability matters and challenges, including training on how to make the workplace more inclusive.
· Offering employment opportunities for trainees with disabilities through the Public Sector Commission’s Business Traineeship Program.
Our Commitment
The Department endeavours to:
· Achieve the seven outcomes of the DAIP by implementing strategies as detailed in this plan;
· Ensure people with disability, their families and carers can fully access our services, information and facilities, providing the same opportunities, rights and responsibilities enjoyed by other people in the community;
· Support and empower our employees so they are able to contribute to the Department’s objectives to the best of their ability; and
· Consult with people with disability, their families, carers and support service providers to identify and remove barriers of access and inclusion.
Development of the DAIP
In 2016 a cross departmental Planning Project Team was established to review the existing DAIP and develop the new five year DAIP 2017-22.
Consultation
In 2016 and early 2017, the Department consulted with internal stakeholders, including:
· Briefing key internal stakeholders at the Disability Services Commission (DSC) to raise awareness of disability issues;
· Liaising with senior managers to assist in providing suitably qualified and motivated business unit representatives to form the DAIP Planning Project Team;
· Promoting the upcoming review of the DAIP on the Department’s intranet;
· Seeking comments and input from the Department’s Corporate Executive and staff; and
· Investigating contemporary trends and best practice in access and inclusion plans.
The Department will publish the draft DAIP through the following channels:
· Department of Finance website;
· LinkedIn; and
· In the West Australian newspaper.
The Department intends to send copies of the draft DAIP to those who seeks to contribute to the planning process including staff, people with disability, their families, carers, disability organisations, relevant community groups and peak bodies for feedback.
Copies of the plan will be provided in alternative formats upon request, including electronic format, hard copy (in both large and standard print), audio format and via the Department’s website.
Promotion
An advertisement will be taken out in the West Australian newspaper advising the public that a copy of the final DAIP is available on the Department’s website and in alternative formats upon request.
Review and Evaluation
The Department will monitor and review the implementation of the DAIP in the following ways:
· Collect feedback from the community via our website, personal representation or by phone.
· The DAIP Committee will meet quarterly to review the implementation of the DAIP, including any feedback provided.
· The DAIP Committee will prepare an annual report on progress to the Department’s Corporate Executive for endorsement prior to submission to DSC.
· We will provide an update on the progress of the DAIP in the Department’s Annual Report, and provide opportunity for the public to comment on subsequent updates.
· We will review the DAIP within five years. Any amendments will be lodged with DSC.
Acknowledgement
The Department acknowledges the contribution and assistance provided by DSC, staff, community groups, the DAIP Committee and the Planning Project Team with the development of this Plan.
Department of Finance, Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2017-2022 20
Outcomes and Strategies
The Department will achieve the seven desired outcomes of the DAIP by implementing the following strategies.
Outcome 1
People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to access the services of, and any event by, the Department.
Strategies / Responsibility / Timeframe Due By /Maintain a DAIP Committee to guide the implementation of DAIP activities and advocate for equitable access to Departmental services and events / CorpEx / Ongoing
Implement and monitor the DAIP to ensure it supports equitable access to services by people with disability throughout the various functions of the Department. / DAIP Committee / Ongoing
Ensure that all events are organised so that they are accessible to people with disability. / Managers
Event Owners / Ongoing
Ensure that all agents and contractors of the Department are aware of their obligations under the DAIP. / Managers / Ongoing
Incorporate the objectives of the DAIP into the Department’s strategic business planning, budgeting processes and other relevant plans and strategies. / CorpEx
Tier 3
Managers / Ongoing
Occupational Health and Safety procedures and training are in place to ensure the safety of employees and visitors with disabilities are met in the event of a fire, evacuation or other critical incident. / Facilities Managers
OSH Manager
Fire Wardens
Managers / Ongoing
Provide opportunities for people with disability to comment on access to services and advice provided by the Department. / Facilities Managers / Ongoing
Outcome 2
People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to access the buildings and other facilities of the Department.
Strategies / Responsibility / TimeframeDue By /
Ensure all Departmental buildings and facilities are physically accessible for people with disability. / Building Service Managers
Facilities Managers
Government Office Accommodation / Ongoing
Ensure facilities have sufficient ACROD parking to meet the needs of people with disability. / Building Service Managers
Facilities Managers Government Office Accommodation / Ongoing
Ensure all government offices leased for occupation by the Department are readily accessible for people with disability. / Government Office Accommodation / Ongoing
Ensure that the Department’s reception and client contact areas are accessible for people with disability. / Building Service Managers
Facilities Managers Government Office Accommodation / Ongoing
Maintain emergency evacuation procedures for the Department’s buildings that ensure the safety of people with disability. / Building Service Managers
Facilities Managers
Fire Wardens
OSH Manager / Ongoing
When access issues are identified via employee or visitor feedback, they are addressed in a timely and appropriate manner and resolutions communicated to relevant stakeholders. / Building Service Managers
Facilities Managers
Government Office Accommodation / Ongoing
Ensure signage meets the needs of people with disability. / Building Service Managers
Government Office Accommodation / Ongoing
Department of Finance, Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2017-2022 20
Outcome 3
People with disability receive information from the Department in a format that will enable them to access the information as readily as other people are able to access it.
Strategies / Responsibility / TimeframeDue By /
Continue to work towards ensuring Department websites and online applications are compliant with the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 (WCAG 2) Level A or higher including:
· Maintenance and improvements of existing systems and applications.
· Procurement of all new systems and applications. / Application Owners / Ongoing
Support Department staff with making information accessible by tailoring and upgrading Managed Operating Environments systems and software that have accessibility built in. / Application Owners / Ongoing
Ensure all Department publications are as accessible as possible (in accordance with Finance’s Writing Guide and WCAG 2 Level A) or are available in alternative formats on request. / Managers
Content Owners
Director Strategic Issues / Ongoing
Improve staff awareness of their responsibilities in creating and/or obtaining accessible information in alternative formats. / Tier 3
Managers / Ongoing
Offer documentation regarding services, facilities and customer feedback in an appropriate format using clear and concise language. / Business Unit Managers / Ongoing
Improve the awareness of customer service staff of how to provide information in an appropriate format. / Managers / Ongoing
Outcome 4
People with disability receive the same level and quality of service from the staff of the Department as other people receive from the staff of the Department.
Strategies / Responsibility / TimeframeDue By
Increase employee awareness of disability and access requirements with an aim to train staff to provide a satisfactory service to people with disability. / DAIP Committee
Managers / Ongoing
Maintain and promote policies, codes of conduct and strategies that prohibit discrimination, harassment and victimisation of employees and visitors with a disability. / Director PSP / Ongoing
Outcome 5
People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to make complaints to the Department.
Strategies / Responsibility / TimeframeDue By
Ensure that the current systems for receiving and resolving complaints/grievances are readily accessible for people with disability. / Business Unit Managers / Ongoing
Ensure that people who go through the complaints/grievances resolution process have an opportunity to provide feedback on their experience of the complaints/grievances process. / Business Unit Managers / Ongoing
Ensure staff are aware of the complaint/grievance process, to ensure that appropriate support is given to people with disability. / Director PSP
Managers / Ongoing
Outcome 6
People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to participate in any public consultation by the Department.
Strategies / Responsibility / TimeframeDue By
Ensure that where relevant, people with disability and disability support providers are invited and encouraged to participate in public consultation. / Managers / Ongoing
Provide sufficient notice of meetings and appropriate support to people with disability who wish to participate in consultation. / Managers
Event Owners / Ongoing
Outcome 7
People with disability have the same opportunities as other people to obtain and maintain employment with the Department.
Strategies / Responsibility / TimeframeDue By
Develop and maintain effective strategies to improve the attraction, recruitment and retention of employees with a disability. / Director PSP / Ongoing
Ensure the process and method of applying for employment opportunities is accessible to people with disability. / Director PSP
Recruitment Panels / Ongoing
Offer equal opportunities for training and career development for employees with disability. / Director PSP
Managers / Ongoing
Key Roles
Role / Definition /Application Owners / Staff who implement and modify in-house IT applications.
Building Service Manager / Facilities manager employed by the lessor of premises leased by the Department.
Business Unit Managers / The senior staff who manage each business unit: Assistant Deputy Directors General; Executive Directors; and Commissioner
CorpEx / The most senior management group in the Department. It is composed of the Director General and a representative from each Business Unit, a Deputy Director General, Commissioner or Executive Director.
DAIP Committee / Department of Finance representative staff that oversee the implementation of the DAIP and raises awareness of access and inclusion issues.
Director People Strategy and Performance (PSP) / Tier 3 leader responsible for organisational development, occupational safety and health, and human resources.
Director Strategic Issues / Tier 3 leader responsible for coordinating public communication of the Department.
Content Owners / Persons responsible for approving content for public use or internal communications.
Event Owners / Staff who plan and carry out an event and or project.
Facilities Managers / Staff responsible for managing the facilities occupied by the Department.
Fire Wardens / Staff who ensure safe evacuation of staff from work premises in an emergency.
Government Office Accommodation / Branch of Building Management and Works responsible for leasing and managing government offices.
Managers / Staff responsible for supervising or monitoring other staff in the Department.
OSH Manager / Staff member directly engaged to manage OSH issues in the Department.
Recruitment Panels / Teams responsible for screening and appointing staff to roles within the Department.
Tier 3 / The second most senior management group in the Department. Consists of senior leaders who report directly to members of CorpEx.