Message from the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, the Hon Bill Shorten MP
An update on the development of the National Disability Strategy
Update on Developing the National Disability Strategy
On Monday, 23 November 2009, the Prime Minister made announcements relating to the National Disability Strategy. These announcements being:
- the Australian Government is moving to include the National Disability Strategy within the Council of Australian Governments reform agenda; and
- as part of the National Disability Strategy, the Australian Government has commissioned the Productivity Commission to undertake a feasibility study into long-term care and support for people with disability in Australia.
The Productivity Commission will be assisted by an Associate Commissioner with specialist disability expertise. An independent panel of experts will advise the Productivity Commission and Government during the Inquiry.
Further information on these announcements is available at the following links and also via the ‘new approaches to disability’ media release below.
Following on from these announcements on Thursday, 3 December 2009, International Day of People with Disability, the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, the Hon Bill Shorten MP, announced the appointment of the Associate Commissioner and also the Independent Panel.
Government also released the Disability Investment Group report The Way Forward: a new disability policy framework for Australia. The report was commissioned as part of Australian Government’s commitment to set out a ten year agenda for coordinated, across-government action for Australians with disability and is an important contribution to the Australian Government's National Disability Strategy. The Government has already responded to the report's primary recommendation, through the announcement of the feasibility study.
Further information on these announcements is available at the following links and also via the ‘Disability Investment Group Report’ media release below:
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Recent Media Releases and Speeches relating to the National Disability Strategy
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, the Hon Bill Shorten MP:
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Background to the Strategy
A National Disability Strategy was one of the key recommendations of the 2007 Senate Inquiry into the Commonwealth, State and Territory Disability Agreement (CSTDA). It was also a 2007 election commitment of the Rudd Labor Government.
The Strategy aims to address the barriers that are faced by Australians with disability and promote social inclusion. The Strategy will be developed in close consultation with the Australian community, disability and carer peak bodies, employers, and industry experts.
The development of the National Disability Strategy includes the establishment of the 28-member National People with Disabilities and Carer Council (NPWDACC), chaired by Dr Rhonda Galbally AO. The Council provides expert advice to Government on the development and implementation of the Strategy and includes people with disability and their families, carers, industry and union representatives and academics.
As part of an ongoing commitment to the rights of people with disability, State and Territory Ministers will work in partnership with the Australian Government on the development of a National Disability Strategy.
The
National Disability Agreement, outlines the commitment of the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments to work together on the establishment of a National Disability Strategy.
The Strategy will be an important mechanism in ensuring the principles underpinning the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, recently ratified by the government, are integrated into policies and programs affecting people with disability, their families and carers.
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Discussion paper
To ensure the Strategy is practical and effective, the Commonwealth Government in consultation with state and territory governments, developed a discussion paper to facilitate public discussion on the direction of the Strategy.
The discussion paper was launched by the Hon Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Hon Bill Shorten MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services on 17 October 2008.
The discussion paper is available in accessible formats. Please contact us on the phone number below if you require another version of this document.
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Public consultation
Following the release of the discussion paper, a series of public consultations were held across Australia between October and December 2008 to allow all Australians the opportunity to provide input on the direction of the Strategy.
Over 2,500 people attended capital city forums and focus groups in regional and remote areas and over 750 submissions to the discussion paper were received. Thank you to everyone who provided submissions or participated in the consultation sessions held across Australia.
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Consultation Feedback Report
The many views expressed through the transcripts of nation-wide consultations have undergone a thematic analysis and the submissions have since undergone an independent qualitative and quantitative analysis. Together, these two important pieces of work have informed the consultation feedback report from the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council (NPWDACC) to government.
The report ‘Shut Out: The Experience of People with Disabilities and their Families in Australia’ was launched by the NPWDACC on 5 August 2009.
The report is available in accessible formats. Please contact us on the phone number below if you require another version of this document.
The report provides detail on the key barriers and issues facing people with a disability, their families and carers and highlights the solutions offered by the submissions. The report also compares the level of interest against a range of themes and issues that have emerged and identifies the existing strategies that submissions suggest are working well.
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Roundtables
Youth Roundtable Report:
As part of the extensive nation-wide consultations on the development of the National Disability Strategy, a Youth Roundtable was held in Melbourne in November 2008.
The Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS) was commissioned by the Australian Government to host the roundtable consultation for young people with disability between 14 and 25 years of age.
Further information regarding the Youth Roundtable is available in the National Disability Strategy Youth Roundtable Report.
The report includes issues and barriers identified by participants as well as actions and strategies to address those issues and recommendations.
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What happens next?
Work has commenced relating to recent announcements on both the inclusion of the National Disability Strategy within the COAG reform agenda and the feasibility study into long-term care and support for people with disability in Australia as outlined in the links provided above.
The Government has appointed the Associate Commissioner, Mr John Walsh to assist the Productivity Commission. Government has also appointed seven (7) people with relevant expertise and experience of disability, care support and insurance to its Independent Panel which will advise the Government and the Productivity Commission during the feasibility study. Panel members are:
- Mr Bruce Bonyhady, President of Philanthropy Australia and Chair of Yooralla
- Mr David Bowen, CEO of the Lifetime Care and Support Authority in NSW
- Dr Rhonda Galbally AO, Chair National People with Disabilities and Carer Council
- Ms Robyn McKay served in Senior Executive positions in FAHCSIA
- Dr Andrew Pesce, Federal President of the Australian Medical Association
- Ms Ann Sherry AO, former CEO of Westpac New Zealand
- Mr Ian Silk, Chief Executive of AustralianSuper
The National Disability Strategy will be informed by both the views in the Report, Shut Out: The Experience of People with Disabilities and their Families in Australia from the NPWDACC to government and also the recommendations of the Disability Investment Group report, The Way Forward: a new disability policy framework for Australia.
The NPWDACC is focusing on policy themes, issues and solutions which have arisen during the consultations, and developing these further as the content of the National Disability Strategy is shaped. Commonwealth and State and Territory Government officials will continue their work in parallel with that of the Council.
There is general recognition of the importance of continuous engagement with major stakeholders and ‘critical thinkers’ to uncover solutions and innovative responses so that the National Disability Strategy may bring about outcomes that make a real difference for people with disability and their families.
Depending on the issue or question, FaHCSIA will draw together experts from different levels of Government, the Council, business, academia and the community sector to consider policy options and possible solutions. This enables engagement on specific issues to be undertaken throughout the development of the Strategy.
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Contact us
Further information on the Strategy and the NPWDACC is available in the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council section on the Govdex website.
Alternately, you can contact us by:
- Phone: 1800 050 009 (Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm)
- TTY: Phone 1800 555 677 and ask for 1800 050 009
- Email: National Disability Strategy (NDSMailbox@fahcsia.gov.au)
- Post:
National Disability Strategy
PO Box 7442
Canberra Business Centre
ACT, 2610.