Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2017-2021 2 Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2017-2021 Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council Offices: Bungendore/Braidwood contacts: Queanbeyan contacts: 144 Wallace St, Braidwood PO Box 348, Bungendore NSW 2621 PO Box 90, Queanbeyan NSW 2620 10 Majara St, Bungendore Ph: 02 6238 8111 Ph: 6285 6000 256 Crawford St, Queanbeyan Fax: 02 6238 1290 Fax: 6285 6666 Email: [email protected] Web: www.qprc.nsw.gov.au 3 Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2017-2021 Mayoral Message I am proud to present Queanbeyan- Palerang Regional Council’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2017-2021. This Plan will guide Council in the development of an inclusive community in the Queanbeyan – Palerang Region. An inclusive community draws together people with a broad range of skills, interests and perspectives and as a community we benefit from this diversity. Exclusion can lead to disadvantage and discrimination, affecting the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and the wider community. This Plan presents an opportunity for Council and the community to work together to identify and remove barriers to people with disabilities participating fully in community life. Council’s role in developing an inclusive community is one of leadership through the provision of inclusive services and facilities, and in doing so promote interaction between community members. Interaction provides opportunities to learn about the skills and assets held by people with disabilities and the contributions that they make to our community. This Plan draws from the NSW Disability Inclusion Action Planning Guidelines (2015) in which people with disabilities across New South Wales nominated four key areas of focus when developing inclusive communities. The Plan aims to improve: attitudes and behaviours towards people with disabilities; the liveability of the Community; access to employment; and the navigation of the systems, process and information provided by Council (and other services). I support Council’s leadership in the development of an inclusive community in the Queanbeyan- Palerang Region that is welcoming of people with disabilities and values their participation in and contribution to our community. Tim Overall Administrator, Queanbeyan–Palerang Regional Council 4 Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2017-2021 Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Background ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7 Disability defined .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 8 Disability principles ......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8 The case for inclusion ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9 Community planning in local government ................................................................................................................................................................................... 10 Purpose of the plan ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 11 Scope of the plan ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 11 Demographics ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 The big picture (Nationwide) ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 12 The local perspective (Queanbeyan-Palerang LGA) ............................................................................................................................................................. 16 The planning process ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 20 Project governance ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 20 Internal engagement and asset mapping ................................................................................................................................................................................. 22 Community engagement .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 24 Community engagement outcomes ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 29 Strategic outcomes ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 29 Site-specific outcomes .................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 37 ACTION PLAN: .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 40 FOCUS AREA 1: DEVELOPING POSITIVE COMMUNITY ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOURS ......................................................................................... 40 FOCUS AREA 2: CREATING A LIVEABLE COMMUNITY ...................................................................................................................................................... 48 FOCUS AREA 3: SUPPORTING ACCESS TO MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT ................................................................................................................. 67 5 Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2017-2021 FOCUS AREA 4: NAVIGATING SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES ............................................................................................................................................ 78 Monitoring, evaluation and reporting ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 90 6 Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2017-2021 Introduction Background In 2008 Australia ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This was followed in 2010 by the development of the Australian National Disability Strategy, a ten year plan for improving the lives of Australians with disability, their families and carers. The NSW Disability Inclusion Plan was completed in 2015. The State plan works alongside the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The key objectives for the State plan include: Development of positive community attitudes and behaviours towards people with disabilities; The creation of more liveable communities for people with disabilities; A higher rate of meaningful employment participation by people with disabilities through inclusive employment practices; and More equitable access to mainstream services for people with disabilities through better systems and processes. The NSW Disability Inclusion Act (2014) encourages planning and coordination across state and local government to identify and reduce barriers that prevent people with disabilities from participating fully in their community. The Act supports people with disabilities to have: The same human rights as other members of the community and states that governments and communities have a responsibility to facilitate the exercise of those rights; Independence and social and economic inclusion within the community; and Choice and control in the pursuit of their goals and the planning and delivery of their supports and services. The Act mandates that councils must prepare a Disability Inclusion Action Plan by 1 July 2017. 7 Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2017-2021 Disability defined The United