Foreword
Living with a disability in Australia in 2008 is a very different experience from what it was 30 or more years ago. Positive changes have occurred. In the past many people with disability lived in a segregated environment; out of sight and out of mind, excluded from many everyday activities. In contrast, today most people with disability live in the community, contributing in a myriad of ways to Australia’s social and economic prosperity. However, people with disability still encounter significant systemic barriers to full inclusion and participation in Australian communities.
The Australian Government’s commitment to establish a National Disability Strategy (the Strategy) during the 2007 election was made in the belief that after 17 years of economic growth, our nation must do better to fully include people with disability in the social, economic and cultural life of the country. Achieving better outcomes for people with disability and their families and carers is an important part of the government’s new social inclusion agenda.
The aim of the National Disability Strategy is to increase the social, economic and cultural participation of people with disability, to eliminate the discrimination experienced by them and to improve disability support services for them, their families and carers. For those living with profound disability and complex needs, we must ensure support and living arrangements meet the same standards of dignity and choice as all Australians expect.
It is vital that people with disability, their families and carers have an ongoing voice in this work. The new National People with Disabilities and Carer Council (the Council), chaired by Dr Rhonda Galbally, AO, consists of people with an impressive range of experience and skills in this area, including people with disability, their family members, carers and community, business and union representatives. The Council will have a lead role in the development of the Strategy and will be directly involved in the national consultation, the analysis of emerging themes and monitoring progress of the Strategy.
We are also delighted at the involvement of the private sector through the Disability Investment Group, and look forward to the results of their work identifying opportunities to increase private sector involvement and investment in the funding of disability services and related infrastructure.
Importantly, State and Territory Governments have committed to work collaboratively with us in the development of a National Disability Strategy that includes a monitoring and reporting framework. We want to know how you think we can best achieve these goals. We would like to hear from you about your experiences and ideas because government doesn’t have all the answers.
We invite you to respond to this paper and/or come along to one of the public consultations that will be held around the country.
The Hon Jenny Macklin MP
Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services
& Indigenous Affairs
The Hon Bill Shorten MP
Parliamentary Secretary for
Disabilities & Children’s Services