Outcomes for People with Disability
The Australian Government's desired outcome for people with disability is full inclusion in all aspects of community life.
The Government's vision for Australia is a society where all Australians can live, work and participate fully in community life. Nearly one in five Australians have a disability and the Government is committed to widening their opportunities for independence, access and participation. To this end, the Government supports equity of access to all mainstream Australian Government policies, programs and services to ensure that people with disability are empowered to achieve economic and social participation.
The Commonwealth Disability Strategy provides Australian Government organisations with a framework to assist them to develop and deliver policies, programs and services which are accessible for people with disability.
A number of initiatives introduced in recent years complement the aims of the Strategy. Client Service Charters, Workplace Diversity Programs, the Charter of Public Service in a Culturally Diverse Society and the Government Online Strategy all contain specific elements aimed at improving access for people with disability to Australian Government programs, services and facilities.
The Government has a broad commitment to diversity as an important element of its overall social policy. This commitment is also reflected in the Australian Public Service values, which recognise that diversity leads to new ideas, more innovative policy advice and better service delivery.
This can be achieved by involving people with disability in consideration of issues which affect them through inclusion on boards, advisory committees and reference groups. This is an efficient and effective way of ensuring that their needs are met at the time that policy is being developed and programs are being planned.
In working towards achieving equal access for all Australians, there are also people with disability who have additional needs to be considered, including but not limited to, those with multiple disabilities, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, living in rural and remote areas, older people and those on low incomes.