<p> NSW INFORMATION PROGRAM GUIDELINES (Disability)</p><p>1 Table of Contents</p><p>Background to the NSW Information Program Guidelines 3</p><p>Improving the NSW Information Program 3</p><p>Overview of the NSW Information Program 4</p><p>Aims and Objectives 4</p><p>Principles 5</p><p>Program Activities 6</p><p>Program Outcomes 7</p><p>Eligibility 7</p><p>Collaborative and Partnering 7</p><p>Funding 8</p><p>Accountability, Performance and Minimum Data Set (MDS) Reporting 8</p><p>2 Background to the NSW Information Program Guidelines The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the emerging National Disability Strategy promotes social and economic inclusion for people with a disability. The availability of high quality, accurate, appropriate and timely information is a key determinant of how well a person can plan and make decisions that affect their lives. The NSW Disability Services Act 1993 (NSW) provides the NSW legislative base for disability services, and lays the foundation for promoting the rights of people with a disability, supporting their wellbeing and encouraging their participation in the life of the community.</p><p>Improving the NSW Information Program The NSW Government’s plan Stronger Together: A new direction for disability services 2006-2016, aims to build upon and improve services to people with a disability and their families and carers. The key objectives of Stronger Together are to:  strengthen families by enabling children with a disability to grow up in a family and participate in the community;  promote community inclusion by supporting adults with a disability to live and be part of the community; and  improve the service system’s capacity and accountability by providing fairer and clearer ways to access services, greater accountability and more opportunities for innovation. To support these objectives, a priority under Stronger Together is the reform of information services (including print disability services) in NSW so that people with a disability and their families and carers have greater access to supports that assist them to make informed decisions about their lives. The reform of NSW information services will assist people with a disability and their families and carers to increase the control they have over their lives. This will contribute to an understanding about what is available in the community and through mainstream services, as well as, where appropriate, more specialist support. Information Services will enable people with a disability to make informed choices regarding their contribution to and participation in the local and broader community. Additionally the guidelines have been informed by extensive consultation processes via discussion papers and direct liaison with the NSW information sector. Ageing, Disability and Home Care (ADHC) will continue to work with the sector to refine the program with the aim of developing best practice in the delivery of information to people with a disability and their families and carers in NSW.</p><p>3 Overview of the NSW Information Program The National Disability Agreement outlines a reform agenda which strategically shifts public policy and practice towards empowerment, life long planning, person centred planning, community inclusion and participation to enable people with a disability to live their lives as they wish. In order to exercise choice and maximise independence, people require access to accurate information that will help them manage their own lives, understand their options, access community, and engage on topics of interest. “Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives.” James Madison, American 4th US President (1809-17).</p><p>An inclusive community also requires that family, friends, colleagues and other community members have access to information so they can better support and interact with a person with a disability. The ability to access ‘knowledge’ is critical to social inclusion. Information services provide accessible information to people with a disability and their families and carers as well as to the broader community. This support provides specific information about access to the community, disability supports and equipment and promotes the development of community awareness. Information support may include contact by face-to-face, phone, print, Braille, audio or email. Information services may also utilise easy-to-read formats, including plain English and community languages, culturally welcoming images, e-text and symbol communication to increase the reach of information. It is vitally important to note that emphasis is placed on a person centred approach whereby services encourage a person to act on their own behalf however this should not be misinterpreted as minimising service delivery. </p><p>Aims and Objectives Information Services seek to facilitate knowledgeable, connected and capable individuals and communities. The NSW Information Program will:  empower people with a disability to communicate their own preferences to enable informed planning and decision making;  facilitate inclusion for people with a disability, their family and carers, in the community;  increase ease of access and timeliness to relevant, local and other information;  respond to identified information and communication modes/needs that contribute to improving outcomes for people with a disability, their families and carers;</p><p>4  improve the cultural appropriateness of format and content of information for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a disability so that they have greater choice in community participation;  improve the cultural appropriateness of format and content of information for people with a disability from a culturally and linguistically diverse background so that they have greater choice in community participation;  include and value families and carers as part of the support system for people with a disability;  provide information to the broader community to assist in knowledge and understanding of issues affecting people with a disability, their families and carers; and  ensure the delivery of high quality information services.</p><p>Principles The following principles inform the development and delivery of all support to people with a disability in the NSW Information program: Inclusion  Provide accessible and up to date information to people with a disability about local community activities and supports.  Promote community awareness about people with a disability. Independence of support  People with a disability receive independent and autonomous information that is not inhibited by conflict of interest. Empowerment  Promote informed decision making and independence. Privacy and confidentiality  The privacy, dignity and confidentiality of people with a disability are protected and upheld at all times and coherent with relevant privacy laws and principles. Quality  All supports delivered to people with a disability are of high quality, effective and outcomes based.</p><p>Collaboration  Information services should foster strategic alliances with people with a disability, peak organisations and universal services to ensure contemporary and up-to-date information. </p><p>5 Equity  Each user seeking a service has access to that service on the basis of relative need and available resources.</p><p>Program Activities Examples of information program activities for service type 6.02 (Information) could include but are not limited to:  provide a suite of up-to-date, accurate and relevant information and support in appropriate formats for people with a disability, their families, carers and the broader community;  maintain information that will assist people to ‘get around’ in their local and wider communities;  maintain access to current knowledge of disability related issues and research;  create and/or revise information in formats that are accessible and culturally appropriate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people;  create and/or revise information in formats that are accessible and culturally appropriate for people from a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse background;  support information handling skills so that people with a disability can better use the information;  provide information at consumer and community oriented events;  build networks with service providers and community organisations so that people with a disability, their families and carers can be advised of supports and/or networks;  facilitate a person’s ability to link with other available supports, for example, by providing web-based links where appropriate;  provide advice to community and business on accessible formats for information; and  liaise and build productive relationships with other information services, such as ADHC’s Information, Referral and Intake services, Carelink and other funded information services. Examples of information program activities for service type 6.05 (print disability) could include but are not limited to:  produce and distribute multi-media resources - including creating or converting resources to digital format - to meet identified needs of people with a disability, their families, carers and the broader community.</p><p>6 Program Outcomes  People with a disability can make informed decisions about their lives.  Information services are provided responsively to meet the needs and interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with a disability.  Information services are provided responsively to meet the needs and interests of people with a disability from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.  People with a disability have access to information that facilitates their choice of contribution and participation in the community.  There is greater acknowledgement and awareness of disability in the community.</p><p>Eligibility There are no specific eligibility requirements for information services. Information services also serve as a valuable resource for people with a disability, their families and carers, as well as the broader community. Priority of access will be to people with a disability, and their families and carers.</p><p>Collaboration and Partnering The framework for cooperation between service providers delivering disability information services and ADHC is based on the principles outlined in the Working Together for NSW including integrity, accountability, independence, cooperation, respect, an outcomes focus and a commitment to open communication and consultation. The following broad principles are essential as the basis for a strong relationship between the Government and the non-government sector:  Outcomes: decisions should be informed by a focus on real outcomes for people and communities.  Respect: both Government and non-government organisations (NGOs) must respect each other’s roles and acknowledge that these roles may lead to differences of opinion around particular issues.  Evidence-based approach: policy, program development and service delivery should be based on reliable evidence.  Accountability: both Government agencies and NGOs must be accountable and transparent in the way in which they spend public funds, in a manner appropriate to the level of expenditure.  Communication: wherever possible, Government agencies and NGOs should make open communication and consultation a priority, particularly where changes to policies, programs or services are being considered or advocated.  Independence: NGOs are independent agencies that are responsible and accountable for their own performance and management. They are </p><p>7 accountable to their members (and their clients/consumers/service users) in the operation of their organisation. Where NGOs receive government funding they are also accountable to Government for their performance in relation to the service or initiative being funded.  Inclusiveness: the Government is obliged to balance the interest of all New South Wales citizens and has a responsibility to allocate resources accordingly. This may involve changes to policies, administrative and funding arrangements. The Government is accountable to the electorate for such changes. </p><p>Funding Information services are funded under the NSW Disability Services Act 1993 and are funded in a manner consistent with the roles and responsibilities established under the National Disability Agreement. For further information regarding the ‘Principles for the Funding Relationship’ please refer to.Working Together for NSW.</p><p>Accountability, Performance and Minimum Data Set (MDS) Reporting ADHC operated services are monitored through the regional management structure. Regional Directors have responsibility for ensuring information services funded by ADHC are performing in line with the requirements set out in these Guidelines and in accordance with the provisions of the Funding Agreement. Information Services are required to submit an annual work plan by 31 May that highlights priorities for the coming year and describes how to achieve them. Additionally services are required to submit an annual progress report against the work plan by 30 September. To enhance sector partnerships, the region and the organisation should work together on the annual work plan to strengthen the outcome focus and sustainability of the service model.</p><p>8</p>