Appendix 7 - Commonwealth Disability Strategy

The Australian Government’s response to the Senate Employment, Workplace Relations and Education References Committee’s report, Education of students with disabilities, was tabled in July 2003. Eleven of the recommendations in the report were referred to other bodies for further consideration. The government’s response is available at
<http://www.dest.gov.au/edu/gen_ed_pubs.htm>.

The department works in partnership with each of the education sectors: school education, vocational education and training, and the higher education sector. It is involved with the development and review of national policy and programmes in relation to each of the education sectors and provides funding for many national programmes to support students with disabilities. A particular example is the development, with the states and territories through MCEETYA, of the Disability Standards for Education under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

The Jobs Pathway Programme is aimed at 14–19 year olds and has eight target groups, one of which is young people who have a disability. The programme providers must ensure that 60 per cent of participants are from targeted groups.

• distribution of consultation papers to peak disability groups for input; and

• face-to-face meetings with relevant groups.

Relevant groups include the National Industry Association for Disability Services; representatives from a range of organisations in the disability sector in relation to the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 Standards Project standards development; education authority staff with expertise in educating students with disabilities; and university staff who provide support to students with disabilities.

During 2003–04, a mid-term review of Bridging Pathways: a national blueprint to improve opportunities for people with a disability in VET involved consultations with disability groups. The document is currently being revised to ensure the needs of people with a disability continue to be included in planning and reporting processes in the VET system.

In the review of higher education equity programmes, arising from the Our Universities: Backing Australia’s Future package of reforms, the focus of disability support funding was subject to consultation with the higher education sector, with input from student equity and disability support staff in universities.

During 2003–04, consultations on arrangements for the 2005–2008 quadrennium funding for schools were held with government and non-government stakeholders in every state and territory. Discussion included introduction of the overarching Literacy, Numeracy and Special Learning Needs Programme which is aimed at those students who are most in need of additional assistance, including students with disabilities; and additional funding over 2005–2008 to improve the basis of distribution of funds to education authorities under two elements of this programme.

Time taken in providing announcements in accessible formats.

The new Regional Disability Liaison Officer Disability Coordination Officer web site is publicly available at <http://www.adcet.edu.au/rdco> and is compliant to the highest level with W3C Worldwide Web Content Accessibility Guidelines for people with a disability.

Closed captioning was available on television commercials such as those for New Apprenticeships.

Service providers, including Centrelink, deliver most of the department’s programmes and services. Centrelink provides a range of services to people with disabilities, including a dedicated phone service and specially trained Disability Officers.

• engagement of ongoing and non-ongoing employees;

• procedures for determining breaches of the Australian Public Service Code of Conduct (Handbook for Dealing with Misconduct);

• whistleblowing;

• review of actions;

• non-performance of duties;

• working from home;

• harassment-free workplace;

• leave;

• working hours;

• nursing mothers;

• engaging in employment outside DEST;

• mobility and reintegration policy; and

• termination of employment.

The department’s Workplace Diversity Plan (currently being reviewed) identifies a commitment to the promotion of equitable and flexible working arrangements to encourage people with disabilities to apply for employment opportunities in the department.

In 2003–04 the department continued a formal induction process, requiring all employees (ongoing and non-ongoing) to attend. Sessions address the Australian Public Service Values and Code of Conduct, ethics and fraud awareness, occupational health and safety, diversity and the need for all staff to ensure the department maintains a harassment-free workplace.

Average time taken to provide accessible information in electronic formats and formats other than electronic.

Formatting of all information on the intranet takes into account ‘best practice’ approaches, in consultation with experts in this area.

Average time taken to provide information in any requested format is within 48 hours.

All departmental employees and contractors have access to information on reasonable adjustment. The department’s standard services contract includes the requirement for due regard to Australian Government policies on employment and requirements under occupational health and safety laws.

Interpreters are offered and engaged when requested by hearing impaired staff or their managers. Auslan interpreters are engaged for corporate events where the Ministers or the Secretary address all staff.

The DEST Handbook for Dealing with Misconduct was written as a user-friendly handbook with the aim of simplifying procedures for determining breaches of the Australian Public Service Code of Conduct.

An analysis of complaints received during 2003–04 indicates that there were no disability issues involved.