The National Disability Agreement reflects a strong commitment from the Australian Government and State and Territory Governments to provide more opportunities for people with disability to participate in and enjoy Australia's economic and social life. The Agreement commenced on 1 January 2009 and provides the framework for the provision of government support for people with disability.
The National Disability Strategy
The National Disability Strategy outlines a 10-year national policy framework to guide government activity across six key outcome areas and to drive future reforms in mainstream and specialist disability service systems to improve outcomes for people with disability, their families and carers. It represents a commitment by all levels of government, industry and the community to a unified, national approach to policy and program development. The Commonwealth, state, territory and local governments have developed the Strategy in partnership under the auspices of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). The National Disability Strategy was formally endorsed by COAG on 13 February 2011.
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1992
The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) provides protection for everyone in Australia against discrimination based on disability. The Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) was enacted in 1992 following years of lobbying by women and men with disabilities and human rights activists who recognised that national legislation equal to the Race Discrimination Act and the Sex Discrimination Act was urgently required to protect and enhance the rights of people with disabilities. The DDA makes it unlawful to discriminate in the provision of goods, services or facilities against people on the basis that they have, have had, or may have, a disability. The Act also makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person on the basis that one of her or his associates may have a disability.
Australian Bureau of Statistics: Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC)
This survey collects information on 3 population groups: people aged 60 years and over, people with disabilities and their carers. There are other sources of information about services provided to these groups, but this survey is the only source of information on the assistance requirements of those groups, the extent to which these requirements are met, and the characteristics of those with unmet need. It also provides information on participation in economic and community activities. The survey is the major source of national statistics on carers and primary carers: numbers and characteristics of carers, care relationships, activities for which informal care is provided, and, for primary carers, support available and required, and the effects of the caring role on their lives.
Disability Discrimination Act Standards
The Disability Discrimination Act (1992) provides that Disability Standards can be made by the Commonwealth Attorney-General to specify rights and responsibilities about equal access and opportunity for people with a disability, in more detail and with more certainty than the DDA itself provides. Standards can be made in the areas of employment, education, public transport services, accommodation and the administration of Commonwealth laws. The main purpose of the Disability Standards is to make rights and obligations under the DDA easier to understand, comply with and enforce. A further function of Disability Standards is to set out more detailed principles to guide key decisions under the DDA such as how to establish what is a reasonable adjustment or what could constitute unjustifiable hardship.
The Disability Services Census collects information each year from certain disability services funded by the Australian Government, including for example: supported employment services (also known as Australian Disability Enterprises); advocacy services; print disability services; and, disability information and captioning services. The Disability Services Census collects information about services, such as hours of operation and staffing hours. Supported employment services are also asked to provide certain information about each of their service users.
National People with Disabilities and Carer Council
The National People with Disabilities and Carer Council provides advice to the Australian Government, through the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services, on issues affecting people with disability, their families and carers in Australia. The formation of this Council creates a single advisory body on the inter-related issues of disability and the caring relationships.
Australian Human Rights Commission: Disability Rights
The Australian Human Rights Commission leads the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. The Commission also has major responsibilities under the international Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Complaints about discrimination and breaches of human rights can be made to the Australian Human Rights Commission. The Commission also performs a wide range of functions to assist individuals and organisations to understand their rights and meet their legal responsibilities. This work is led by Graeme Innes AM, the Disability Discrimination Commissioner.
The National Disability Advocacy Program
The National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) assists people with disability to overcome barriers such as physical access, discriminatory attitudes, abuse and neglect, that impact on their daily life and their ability to participate in the community. Disability advocacy agencies receive funding under the Disability Services Act 1986 (Commonwealth).
The Disability Services Act (1986)
The Disability Services Act was passed in 1986 with the aim of providing a coordinated approach to assisting people with disability gain and maintain employment. The Disability Services Act provides a legislative and funding framework for a range of disability services, most significantly employment services. The Disability Services Act also provides for a set of guiding standards for the delivery of quality services known as the Disability Services Standards.
The Disability Services Act (1986) provides for a set of guiding standards for the delivery of quality services known as the Disability Services Standards. There are 12 Disability Services Standards, supported by 26 Key Performance Indicators which outline the Australian Government’s expectations of service quality and link directly to core organisational processes and outcomes.
The National Relay Service is an Australia-wide telephone access service provided for people who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment. It is also available to anyone who wants to call a person with a hearing or speech impairment.
National Auslan Interpreter Booking Service
The National Auslan Interpreter Booking Service (NABS) is a service that provides accredited Auslan interpreters to deaf Auslan users attending private medical consultations.
National Print Disability Services
The Print Disability Services Program (the Program) supports organisations to produce print material in alternative formats for people with print disability who are unable to read standard print with ease due to vision impairment, a physical disability or a learning disability.
National Information and Captioning Services
Media Access Australia and NICAN are funded by the Australian Government under the Disability Services Act 1986 to provide National Information and Captioning Services for people with disabilities.
Postal Concessions for the Blind Program
Through the Postal Concessions for the Blind Program, Australia Post is reimbursed by the Australian Government for the cost of posting 'eligible items' for people who are blind.
National Disability Conference Funding Program
An allocation of funds is provided each year to support national and international disability conferences held within Australia. These funds are administered by the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs through the Disability Policy and Coordination Branch. Applications are only called for once a year. These funds may be provided to conference organisers to: assist people with disabilities, their families and/or carers with costs such as conference fees, accommodation or travel; and facilitate access to the conference for people with disabilities, their families and/or carers by, for example, providing funding for interpreters for people who are Deaf or hearing impaired, for the provision of material in alternative formats, and/or for the provision of note-takers.
International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) and the National Disability Awards
International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is a United Nations sanctioned day that aims to promote an understanding of people with disability and encourage support for their dignity, rights and well-being. The day also seeks to increase awareness of the benefits of the integration of people with disability in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. The National Disability Awards are part of the Australian Government's celebration of International Day of People with Disability. The awards celebrate and acknowledge the achievements and contributions that individuals with disability make to our community, and recognise individuals within our community who have contributed to the disability sector.
Australian Disability Parking Scheme
The Australian Disability Parking Scheme includes an Australian Disability Parking Permit, which is recognised nationally. It also establishes nationally consistent eligibility criteria and national minimum parking concessions to help reduce the barriers for permit holders when travelling interstate. Permit holders can park in parking spaces showing the international symbol of access and can receive concessions in most public parking spaces where the sign or meter shows specific time limits.
The National Companion Card Scheme brings together State and Territory Companion Card programs that enable eligible people with lifelong disability to participate at venues and activities without incurring the cost of a second ticket for their companion. The cardholder presents their card at participating affiliate organisations to purchase a ticket or pay an entry fee and receive a ticket for their companion at no extra charge.
National Auslan Interpreter Booking and Payment Service (NABS)
NABS provides interpreters to any person who uses sign language to communicate and would like an interpreter for private medical appointments. It is free of charge to Sign Language users and medical and health care practitioners. All interpreting services to Aboriginal and Islander Sign Language users are provided free of charge for both public and private health appointments.
Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS)
The CAPS is an Australian Government payment that assists eligible people, who have permanent and severe incontinence to meet some of the cost of their continence products. It is a direct payment administered by Medicare, to clients providing flexibility and choice about where and when they purchase their continence products.
The National Mental Health Strategy
The National Mental Health Strategy is a commitment by the Australian Government and state and territory governments to improve the lives of people with a mental illness. It was endorsed in April 1992 by the Australian Health Ministers' Conference (AHMC) as a framework to guide mental health reform. The National Mental Health Strategy aims to: Promote the mental health of the Australian community; Where possible, prevent the development of mental disorder; Reduce the impact of mental disorders on individuals, families and the community; and, Assure the rights of people with mental illness.
The National Drug Strategy, a cooperative venture between Australian, state and territory governments and the non-government sector, is aimed at improving health, social and economic outcomes for Australians by preventing the uptake of harmful drug use and reducing the harmful effects of licit and illicit drugs in our society.
The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, marital status, pregnancy or potential pregnancy in a range of areas of public life. These areas include work, accommodation, education, the provision of goods, facilities and services, the activities of clubs and the administration of Commonwealth laws and programs. Among other things, the Sex Discrimination Act seeks to eliminate discrimination involving dismissal of employees with family responsibilities and to eliminate sexual harassment in areas of public activity. The rights and responsibilities of pregnant and potentially pregnant workers in the workplace were clarified by the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Pregnancy and Work) Act 2003.
Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999
The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Act 1999 (Cth) came into effect on 1 January 2000, renaming and updating the Affirmative Action (Equal Employment Opportunity for Women) Act 1986. The Act requires: Private sector companies, Not-for-profit/Community organisations, Non-government schools, Unions, Group training companies, and Higher education institutions - with 100 or more people to establish a workplace program to remove the barriers to women entering and advancing in their organisation.
This site was developed by Carolyn Frohmader for Women With Disabilities Australia.