Contents
- Part 1 Executive Summary
- Part 2 Performance reporting
- Part 3 Corporate governance and accountability
- Part 4 Appendices
- Part 5 Financial Management
Annual Report 2008–2009
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Annual Report 2008–2009
Annual Report 2008–2009 » Chapter 15: Appendices » Appendix 3
In this appendix, FaHCSIA reports on its performance under the Commonwealth Disability Strategy. The strategy was introduced to assist Australian Government agencies meet their obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. Under the strategy, Commonwealth Government agencies are obliged to remove barriers which prevent people with disability from having access to policies, programs and services.
FaHCSIA's performance is reported in two categories reflecting the Department's role as a Policy Adviser and Purchaser.
The Department does not have the role of Regulator or Provider under this strategy. From 1 July 2007, reporting requirements under the Employer Role were transferred from the Commonwealth Disability Strategy to the Australian Public Service Commission's State of the Service agency survey.
A revised version of FaHCSIA's Disability Action Plan is currently being finalised. The plan will provide strong support for significant initiatives, including the strategic recruitment and retention policy for staff with disability.
The Department's core business policy of advising and program management includes improving outcomes for people with disability. FaHCSIA continues to improve access to its policies, programs and facilities for people with disability.
| Performance Requirements of the Policy Adviser Role | |
|---|---|
| Performance indicator | Current level of performance |
| New or revised policies/programs impact on the lives of people with disability prior to decision. | Where possible, the impact of new policy and program proposals on people with disability is completed prior to implementation.
Examples of performance: The work conducted by the Women's Safety Section, Safety Taskforce Branch, focuses on reducing violence against women, including domestic and family violence and sexual assault. Considerable consultation is undertaken with women, including women with disability, as well as other women with special needs, prior to making decisions about developing or revising policy and/or programs. The primary piece of new policy development undertaken by the Safety Taskforce in 2008-09 was the development of a National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women. Extensive consultation of over 2,000 Australians, including women with disability, advised the National Council's recommendations in their plan Time for Action. The Disability Policy and Coordination Branch conducted nationwide consultations on the development of the National Disability Strategy. Analysis of the feedback from the consultation process takes into account the impact on people with disability prior to the development of the strategy, which is due to be released in mid-2010. The Office of Housing's National Affordable Housing Agreement and National Partnership Agreement on Social Housing gives consideration to the over-representation of people with disability in low and moderate income groups, including people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. |
| People with disability are included in consultations about new or revised policy/program proposals. | People with disability and peak disability groups are consulted as part of the Department's holistic consultation process when policies are implemented or revised.
The role of the council is to provide expert advice to Government on the development and implementation of the National Disability Strategy. Examples of performance: The National People with Disabilities and Carer Council was established in September 2008. The council is made up of 28 members and includes people with disability and their families, carers, industry and union representatives and academics. The role of the council is to provide expert advice to the Government on the development and implementation of the National Disability Strategy. The Women's Safety Section, Safety Taskforce Branch, engaged intensively with the peak body, Women with Disabilities Australia (WWDA), during the development of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women. WWDA was also a critical reader in drafting of the plan, with approximately 13% representation on this group. The Pension Review Taskforce conducted public meetings in each capital city and three regional centres. People with disability attended each of these meetings. Focus groups were held to further explore issues raised in the public meetings. People with disability participated in these groups. |
| Public announcements of new, revised or proposed policy/program initiatives are available in accessible formats for people with disability in a timely manner. | The Department has a standard for provision of documents in accessible formats.
Example of performance: The Disability Policy and Coordination Branch produced a discussion paper on the development of the National Disability Strategy that was released in multiple versions. These included hardcopy-standard and easy english, web-standard and easy english in pdf and html, CD-audio, standard and easy English in pdf and html. Braille versions and 10 community language translations were available on request. |
| Performance Requirements of the Purchaser Role | |
|---|---|
| Performance indicator | Current level of performance |
| Publicly available information on agreed purchasing specifications is available in accessible formats for people with disability. | All documents are available in accessible formats. |
| Processes for purchasing goods or services with a direct impact on the lives of people with disability are developed in consultation with people with disability. | The Department's procurement policy necessitates consultation with all stakeholders and the concerns and interests of people with disability are included as part of this process. |
| 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 standard contract form requires all contractors to comply with provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. |
| Publicly available performance reporting against the purchase contract specifications requested in accessible formats for people with disability is provided. | All performance reporting is available in accessible formats for people with disability. |
| Complaints/grievance mechanisms, including access to external mechanisms, in place to address concerns raised about provider's performance. | Complaints and grievances are managed under the FaHCSIA service charter. External complaints mechanisms are available. All providers operating under a funded service agreement are required to have a complaints and grievance mechanism and access to an external appeal mechanism. |