4.2 Commonwealth Disability Strategy

The Commonwealth Disability Strategy encourages Australian Government agencies to recognise and consider the needs of people with a disability in the development and delivery of policies, programs and services. Following is a discussion of the Department’s performance in meeting the strategy’s objectives in 2007–08.

Policy Adviser Role

New or revised program/policy proposals assess impact on the lives of people with disabilities prior to decision.

The Department’s consideration of the potential effects of new or revised policy and program proposals on stakeholders resulted in positive outcomes for people living with a disability. For example, mental illness and drug and alcohol abuse often go hand-in-hand and require treatment of both disorders. The Improved Services for People with Drug and Alcohol Problems and Mental Illness initiative aims to build the capacity of non-government drug and alcohol treatment services to better identify and treat people in these situations. Further discussion relating to this initiative can be found in the Outcome 1 – Population Health chapter.

A new strategy for community care, The Way Forward, aims to streamline administrative arrangements and create a nationally consistent and fairer system to help people with a disability to remain living in their homes for as long as possible. This initiative is discussed in the Outcome 4 – Aged Care and Population Ageing chapter.

The Australian Health Pandemic Influenza Communication Strategy provides a guide for the Department’s communication response to an influenza pandemic. Its primary objective is to ensure that accurate, transparent and consistent information is publicly available in a timely manner. In developing the strategy, the Department carefully considered the needs of people from diverse backgrounds, including those with hearing or visual impairments, to ensure that all Australians have access to accurate and timely information that helps minimise their risk of illness. Discussion on health pandemic preparedness activities can be found in the Outcome 14 – Biosecurity and Emergency Response chapter.

People with disabilities are included in consultations about new or revised policy/program proposals.

The Department actively consulted with a diverse range of key stakeholders on new or revised policy and program proposals throughout the year. For example, the Department regularly consulted with the Australian Mental Health Consumers’ Network and the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum on programs and policies aimed at addressing mental health issues and disabilities in the community. The Deafness Forum, the peak body for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, were consulted on new or revised policy and program proposals relating to the Hearing Services Program.

People with disabilities had the opportunity to contribute to the Home and Community Care Program, which provides services for the frail aged, younger people with disabilities, and their carers; to support them to be more independent at home and to reduce the potential or inappropriate need for admission to residential care. Representatives from the disability sector and people with disabilities and their advocates also participated in forums such as the National Continence Management Committee and the Dementia Advisory Group.

Public announcements of new, revised or proposed policy/program initiatives are available in accessible formats for people with disabilities in a timely manner.

The Department ensured that people with disabilities could gain access to all public announcements on policy and program initiatives in a timely manner. For example, information on the Hearing Services Program was published on the Department’s website within a week of a decision being made; and hard copies were produced, with some in large print for people who are vision impaired.

Information on the Department’s website, <www.health.gov.au>, was published in accordance with the World Wide Web Consortiums’ Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, to make web content accessible to people with disabilities. For example, content was uploaded in Hyper Text Mark-up Language which allows programs such as ‘screen reader’ to read aloud information to users. Information was also available in Portable Document File format.Top of page

Helping People with Disabilities to Enjoy their Trip to the Movies

In 2007–08, the Department commenced working with the Independent Cinemas Association of Australia and Media Access Australia to expand access to cinemas for people with a hearing impairment. Through the Helping Older Australians Enjoy Movies – Accessible Cinema Project, 12 cinemas will be selected in rural, regional and suburban areas to be fitted with a DTS Cinema Subtitling System that enables audio description and captioning. This will bring the number of accessible cinemas around the country to 22. The aim of this project is to help reduce social isolation, allow greater opportunities for improved access to community activities, and encourage social engagement for older people and those with hearing or vision impairment.

Regulator Role

Publicly available information on regulations and quasi-regulations is available in accessible formats for people with disabilities.

In 2007–08, the Department’s Therapeutic Goods Administration provided information on the regulation of therapeutic goods in a number of ways that were accessible for people with disabilities. For example, the Administration provided FreecallTM (1800 020 653) and Freecall™ (1800 500 236) Teletype information for people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, via the National Relay Service.¹

People could also request publicly available documents from <info@tga.gov.au> or other information from <www.tga.gov.au>. The internet site was managed under a continuous improvement process to ensure that it met government accessibility and usability standards.

The Department’s Office of Gene Technology Regulator also provided easily accessible information on its website (<www.ogtr.gov.au>). This information related to: records of licences issued; risk management plans for applications to release genetically modified organisms into the environment; information on amended legislation; revised forms; guidelines and operational policies; and quarterly and annual reports. The Office of Gene Technology Regulator also maintained a free call number (1800 181 030) to respond to enquiries from callers requesting access to hard copies of publicly available material.

Similarly, the Department’s National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme provided material and information on industrial chemicals regulation in electronic and hard copy formats. The public could also access this information via a free call number (1800 638 528).

¹Information on the National Relay Service's call options can be found at <www.relayservice.com.au>.

Publicly available regulatory compliance reporting is available in accessible formats for people with disabilities.

The Department’s 2007–08 Regulatory Plan was publicly available on the Department’s website in Portable Document File format. The plan covers business regulation, including primary legislation, subordinate legislation, quasi-regulation or treaties that directly affect business, have a significant indirect effect on business, or restrict competition.

Information relating to aged care business opportunities, grant/funding invitations, the allocation of aged care places, and approvals under the annual Aged Care Approvals Round were also available on the internet, and in printed form on request. Top of page

Purchaser Role

Publicly available information on agreed purchasing specifications are available in accessible formats for people with disabilities.

In 2007–08, the Department continued to provide publicly available purchasing specifications in accessible electronic formats through its website. All tender documents provided details of departmental contact officers who could issue information in other accessible formats upon request.

Processes for purchasing goods or services with a direct impact on the lives of people with disabilities are developed in consultation with people with disabilities.

The Department considered the concerns and interests of stakeholders, including people with disabilities, as an ongoing responsibility of its procurement planning. Where goods and services had a direct impact on people with disabilities, these requirements were specified in tender documentation.

Purchasing specifications and contract requirements for the purchase of goods and services are consistent with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

The Department’s procedural rules require purchasing officials to adhere to relevant specific legislation in specifications and contract documents. The Department’s standard contract for services, consultancy contract and Deed of Standing Offer contain provisions for the contractor to agree to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

Publicly available performance reporting against purchase contract specifications requested in accessible formats for people with disabilities is provided.

Reporting against purchase contract specifications is generally in-confidence and not available to the public. The Department, however, displayed all open business opportunities (tenders) and grant/funding invitations on its website in formats accessible for people with a disability. Printed formats were also available on request.

Complaints/grievance mechanisms, including access to external mechanisms, in place to address concerns raised about providers’ performance.

The Department had a range of mechanisms in place to respond to complaints and grievances from stakeholders, clients and members of the public about a provider’s performance. For example, the Therapeutic Goods Administration customer service charter includes ways in which to receive feedback, and resolve complaints, on its performance and service delivered to stakeholders and members of the public. The charter complies with the Australian Government’s Customer Service Charter guidelines. The Department also operated an external complaints mechanism to address concerns raised about hearing service providers’ performance. This was accessible to all Hearing Services Program clients.

Information on these and other avenues for providing feedback or making complaints relating to the Department and its services can be found in the 3.5 External Liaison and Scrutiny chapter.