The Queensland Government's commitment to engaging people with a disability

A commitment to listening to and working with all Queenslanders

The Queensland Government is committed to listening to and working with all Queenslanders and has developed a number of strategies to encourage Queenslanders to have their say. These strategies are in line with the government’s priority of delivering responsive government.

Some of the government’s key community engagement strategies include Community Cabinet Meetings, regional sittings of Parliament, Ministerial Regional Community Forums, e-petitions, the Community Renewal Program and Partnerships Queensland. Queenslanders are also able to have their say via a wide range of advisory bodies and targeted consultation processes. Issues relevant to the disability sector may be addressed through these engagement mechanisms. A number of targeted strategies for engaging with the disability sector have also been developed and are described below.

Specific initiatives for engaging people with a disability, their families and carers and the broader disability sector

The Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement

The Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement (2002–07) (CSTDA) provides a national policy framework for the federal and state governments to fund, monitor and support quality services for people with a disability. The CSTDA includes a two-tiered arrangement of multilateral and bilateral agreements. The multilateral agreement includes the five policy areas of:

• strengthening access to generic services for people with a disability
• strengthening cross-government links
• strengthening individuals, families and carers
• improving long-term strategies to respond to and manage demand for specialist disability services
• improving accountability, performance reporting and quality.

The Queensland bilateral agreement details the collaborative work and areas of mutual concern to be progressed by both the Australian and Queensland Governments. These include:

• strengthening cross-government links, particularly at critical life stages and transition points
• strengthening supports and services based on individual needs to enhance the wellbeing, contribution and capacity of individuals, families and carers
• improving long-term strategies to respond to and manage demand for specialist disability support.

Agencies wishing to have matters considered via the CSTDA should ensure these matters are reflected within their agencies' disability service plan.

The Disability Council of Queensland and regional disability councils

In July 2004, in response to the CSTDA, the Queensland Government endorsed the establishment of a new structure of advisory bodies, comprising the Disability Council of Queensland and 10 regional disability councils, to strengthen the government’s capacity to seek and receive community advice on disability issues. The chair of each regional disability council is a member of the Disability Council of Queensland, which is chaired by an independent person.

The Disability Council of Queensland advises the Minister on disability issues that affect the broader Queensland community. Council members work closely with senior staff from the portfolio to identify the needs of Queenslanders with a disability and their families. It also has links with the National Disability Advisory Council.

Regional disability councils work to raise awareness of disability issues in their local communities and strengthen the capacity of local people to actively participate in decisions that affect their lives. The councils also facilitate partnerships between government and the community at a local level.

Agencies seeking Council members’ input in engagement processes should direct a formal request to the Minister for Communities, Disability Services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Seniors and Youth.

CEO Subcommittee on Disability

The CEO Subcommittee on Disability was formed in July 2005. Its role is to develop and monitor the implementation of a plan of action for whole-ofgovernment policy, program and service planning for disability. Specific tasks of the CEO Subcommittee on Disability include:

• overseeing an evaluation of the Queensland Government Strategic Framework for Disability 2002–05 that considers stakeholder perspectives and identifies measurable and demonstrable achievements
• advising on the development and approval of disability service plans for each state government department
• overseeing key whole-of-government projects as agreed by the CEO Subcommittee on Disability
• overseeing and monitoring the implementation of new whole-of-government initiatives identified within disability service plans.

The CEO Subcommittee on Disability is directly accountable to the Premier. Progress reports against its work plan are provided to the Premier on a quarterly basis. Membership comprises chief executive officers from a range of government departments.

The work of the CEO Subcommittee is supported by:

• a senior officers’ group comprised of Queensland Government senior officers
• a reference group comprised of representatives from all government departments, the disability sector and other key stakeholder groups
• the existing NGO Service Provider/Disability Services Queensland Partnership Forum.

Agencies wishing to have matters considered by the Human Services CEO’s Committee should first raise the issue with the reference group for consideration and endorsement.

Peak organisations

The Queensland Government funds peak organisations which operate as representatives of others with an interest in the area of disability, primarily non-government service providers. The peak bodies provide input to and/or are key partners in developments of interest to people with a disability and/or non-government disability services in Queensland. They have strong and active networks across the disability community. As such they can be valuable partners in community engagement activities involving the disability sector.

The peak bodies for disability in Queensland include:

• the National Disability Services (NDS). Membership includes more than 550 nongovernment, non-profit organisations which collectively operate thousands of services for Australians with all types of disability, including intellectual, physical, psychiatric and sensory
• the Queensland Alliance of Mental Health and Psychiatric Disability Groups. Represents nongovernment, non-profit organisations which meet the needs of people with mental illness or psychiatric disability, including consumer groups, family and carer groups and non-government, community-based service providers across Queensland
• the Queensland Council of Carers (also known as Carers Queensland). Provides information and services to support carers in their caring role. This organisation also works to increase awareness of carers and their issues
• the Queensland Disability Housing Coalition. Provides information on the housing needs of people with a disability who are vulnerable in the housing system.

The Minister’s annual disability conference

The Minister for Communities, Disability Services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Seniors and Youth hosts an annual disability conference which provides an opportunity to unite stakeholders from across the disability sector to engage with government and each other on key issues for the sector.

In 2007, the conference will be replaced by a series of forums in ten regions across Queensland.

Partnerships

Disability Services Queensland established the Partnership Forum to provide a pathway for relationship building and shared leadership on issues that affect service delivery. The partnership between Disability Services Queensland and nongovernment disability service providers recognises the importance of a combined approach to being responsive to the needs of people with a disability ¹.

Partnership approaches between a range of federal, state and local government agencies, academic, non-government and business organisations will be critical to achieving a more inclusive society.

Government purchasing policy

The Queensland Government funds a range of organisations to provide services to people with a disability, their families and supporters. The development and review of service agreements provide important opportunities for funding agencies to engage with funded organisations in the disability sector. As with all relationships, the nature of the relationship between government and the sector may evolve and change over time.

Regional and area offices

Many government staff working in regional and area offices engage with people with a disability.

Staff working in regional and area offices of Disability Services Queensland directly engage with people with a disability, their families and carers and the broader disability sector. This direct service assists people with a disability and their families to access the support and services they need. Regional and area office staff also liaise with a large number of funded non-government organisations which provide services to people with a disability, their families, carers and advocates. They also support policy processes at a state and national level to contribute to the development of fairer and more supportive and inclusive communities.

Staff from Queensland Health and the Department of Communities also have a responsibility to engage with people with a disability, their families and carers and representatives of the broader disability sector on a regular basis.

Servicing remote Queensland - local area coordinators

Disability Services Queensland employs local area coordinators who work with people with a disability, their families and carers to assist them to find the services and supports they need within their local community. Local area coordination (LAC) operates in many regional, rural and remote locations across Queensland. The service philosophy of local area coordinators is to ‘do whatever it takes to make the difference needed in people’s lives’ ².

Local area coordination acknowledges the vital role of informal networks and systems in supporting all people to meet personal and social needs. A significant part of the work of the local area coordinator is to assist people with a disability and their families to identify, develop and engage with informal support networks along with supporting them to access formal services. Therefore, local area coordinators develop a deep understanding of the aspirations of people with a disability and their families along with an understanding of the range of local formal and informal supports, the quality of local services and gaps in local service provision. Local area coordinators are actively involved in a range of engagement processes including information collection and dissemination, education and awareness raising, advocacy and providing services which support active participation by people with a disability and their families.

Other engagement mechanisms

A range of non-government organisations and networks are also actively and regularly engaged with people with a disability and the broader disability sector. Some people with a disability only engage with these non-government networks and organisations and do not have an enduring relationship with any government agency. Engaging Queenslanders

• ¹ Department of Communities (2004) Community Engagement Strategy: On improving disability services in Queensland December 2004 – April 2005
• ² Department of Communities (2000) Local area coordination information paper