Introduction
This section covers:
- Overview
- Role of Western Australian public authorities
- Using the package
- Workshop facilitation
- Package contents
Overview
A community that nurtures and supports all of its citizens is simply a better place to live. We all have something to offer and a contribution to make.
People with disabilities enrich the lives of others as well as their own by being citizens -participating in community life.
Communities should welcome and celebrate diversity. While there may be some differences on how people with disabilities communicate or get around, their professionalism, commitment, hopes, dreams and aspirations are the same as other members of the community.
One in five Western Australians has a disability. People with disabilities, their families and carers have the same rights as others to access services, buildings and information within the community. Their rights are protected byState and Commonwealth legislation which make it unlawful to discriminate against a person with a disability and to ensure they have the same opportunities and choices as the rest of the community.
However, some people with disabilities still experience barriers to full community inclusion.
Public authorities (State Government agencies and Local Government Authorities) in Western Australia are required to have aDisability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP)under the Disability Services Act 1993 (amended 2004). This means that public authoritiesare making significant progress towards ensuring that services, buildings, facilities and information are accessible to people with disabilities.
When developing a DAIP, public authorities mustaim to achieve six outcomes. These outcome areas provide a framework fortranslating the principles and objectives of the Act into tangible andachievable results. Schedule 3 of the Disability Services Regulations, 2004 states thesix outcomes of a DAIP are:
1. People with disabilities have the same opportunities as other people to access theservices of, and any events organised by, a public authority.
2. People with disabilities have the same opportunities as other people to access thebuildings and other facilities of a public authority.
3. People with disabilities receive information from a public authority in a format thatwill enable them to access the information as readily as other people are able toaccess it.
4. People with disabilities receive the same level and quality of service from the staffof a public authority as other people receive from the staff of that public authority.
5. People with disabilities have the same opportunities as other people to makecomplaints to a public authority.
6. People with disabilities have the same opportunities as other people to participatein any public consultation by a public authority.
Role of Western Australian public authorities
Public authorities in Western Australia play a vital role in the lives of people with disabilities. Manypublic authorities are multi-functional, with extensive responsibilities and activities across property,community and human services and various services delivery areas.
All of these functions and capabilities directly or indirectly havean impact upon the quality of life of the people with disabilities who live, work andsocialise in the Western Australian communities.
Using the package
Public authorities can use this training packagefor disability awareness training within their organisation. The package can assist in addressing DAIP Outcome 4:
People with disabilities receive the same level and quality of service from the staff of a public authority as other people receive from the staff of that public authority.
Staff in public authorities undertake different roles and tasks andwill have varying levels of disability awareness. This package has been designed to address these factors and consists of sixdifferent sections. In a presentation / workshop the training facilitator can use all of the sections together or they could use the sections that are relevant for thestaff audience they are delivering the package to. It is strongly recommended that Section One (about disability) and Section Two (legislation) are always used in conjunction with the other sections.
Public authority DAIP officers may like to undertake a staff survey before the training to gauge the level of staff awareness of disability issues. Public authorities may wish to use the survey in the Commission’sAccess Resource Kit (available at
Each section of this package includes:
- specific information on that topic;
- an accompanying resource for that section that can be used as part of a disability awareness presentation / workshop; and
- a list of related resources.
Public authorities are encouraged to tailor the package for their specific organisation. There are some blank slides at the end of each PowerPoint where you can, for example, add statistics specific to your customer population, add initiatives of access and inclusion achieved by your authority and / or identify areas your authority will be focusing on. The package remains the property of the Commission, however you may wish to add your authority’s logos to assist with personalising the package.
Workshop facilitation
This package could be presented as part of a workshop or presentation by the authority’s DAIP coordinator. Some authorities may wish to engage a disability training provider to deliver the package. The Commission’s Access Officers are also available to train the DAIP coordinator on the content or how to use the package.
The Commission always receives positive feedback when a person with a disability gives their experience at a workshop / presentation. The delivery of a personal perspective provides a unique picture to understanding issues faced by a person with a disability and nearly always has a lasting effect on the audience. A list of training providers and speakers is available on the Commission’s website
Package contents
This training package contains the following:
Section One–About Disability
This section looks at what is a disability, types of disability, impact of disability,prevalence of disability in Western Australia, types of disabilities and futuretrends in disability.
The accompanying resource for this section is thePowerPoint ‘About Disability’.
Section Two – Legislation, Codes and Standards
This section looks at theWA Disability Services Act, WA Equal Opportunity Act, Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Building Code of Australia, Australian Standards andAccess to Premises Standard.
The accompanying resource for this sectionis thePowerPoint ‘Legislation, Codes and Standards’.
Section Three – Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP) requirements
This section looks at the DAIP requirements for State and Local Government authorities under the Disability Services Act 1993 (amended 2004). The topics covered are what is a DAIP, supporting legislation, the six outcome areas, agent and contractors and reporting requirements.
The accompanying resource for this section is the PowerPoint ‘Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP) requirements’.
Section Four– Customer service
This section looks at disability and appropriate language, communicating with people with disabilities, communication about people with disabilites, positive language and disability etiquette.
The accompanying resource for this section is the You Can Make a Difference DVD and the PowerPoint ‘Customer service’.
Section Five– Access and inclusion
This section looks at access and inclusion, access to information, access to services and events, access to buildings and facilities, planning to overcome barriers to access and inclusion and designing access for people of all ages and abilities.
The accompanying resource for this section is the PowerPoint ‘Access and inclusion’.
Section Six – Additional information
This section looks at role of the Disability Services Commission, contacting training providers,glossary,access information and contacts and Commission resources.