Introduction to the Victorian state disability plan 2013–2016

This presentation What the Victorian state disability plan involves Why we need the Victorian state disability plan Who the Victorian state disability plan is for Key features of the Victorian state disability plan The framework of the Victorian state disability plan

What is the Victorian state disability plan 2013–2016? The Victorian state disability plan 2013–2016 is the Victorian Government’s whole-of-government, whole-of-community plan for making life better for people with a disability, their families and carers. There are three parts to the plan: The Victorian state disability plan 2013–2016 outlines the four year strategic framework and describes how the government will monitor progress. The implementation plans contain the concrete actions that will be taken in each two-year period of the plan. The first Implementation plan will run from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2014. The Companion document provides the context for the plan.

Why do we need a plan? To maintain focus on making the changes that matter A resource that can be used by all – any organisation, local council, group or individual can use the plan to guide their own actions and work together with us to make the plan more powerful Required under the Disability Act 2006 To meet the Victorian government’s commitments under the National Disability Strategy To lay the groundwork for a viable National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Who is the plan for? The plan is for: All people with a disability of all ages, regardless of their type or level of disability. People who need extra support to help them with everyday tasks and who are eligible for support from the disability system. Families and carers of people with a disability will benefit by their family member with a disability having more options for participation and independence. All Victorians will benefit from the increased cultural and economic contribution of people with a disability.

What is the aim of the plan? The plan is working towards achieving the Victorian government’s vision of: An inclusive Victorian society that enables people with a disability, their families and carers to fulfil their potential as equal citizens. The plan aims to build a more accessible and welcoming Victorian community where people with a disability are able to fulfil their potential in all aspects of life, at every stage of their lives, and have the same opportunities to participate as everyone does.

What stands out about the plan? The key features of the plan are that: people with a disability, their families and carers are at the heart of the plan it is whole-of-government and whole-of-community it works across all aspects of everyday life to build a more accessible and welcoming Victoria it continues reforms to the disability system to make it more integrated with other services, easier to use and more flexible it gives more choice and control over supports it will be monitored and evaluated.

Key features People with a disability, their families and carers at the heart of the plan The government consulted with over 500 people with a disability, their families and carers to write the plan. The plan’s progress will be monitored by people with a disability, their families and carers. Whole of government The plan brings together more than 140 actions from all relevant government departments across all areas of life.

Key features Whole of community All parts of our community – local government, employers and businesses, not-for-profit organisations and community groups – can use the plan to connect their efforts with those of the Victorian government and make a bigger impact on achieving the plan’s vision. Every one of us can challenge discrimination and cultural barriers wherever we find them

Key features An accessible and welcoming Victoria The plan works to build a more accessible and welcoming Victoria, where the rights of people with a disability are promoted and they are able to live, work, move around and socialise in the same places and in the same way as their peers. Continued reform of the disability system The plan works towards a connected and integrated disability service system that provides flexible supports to meet individual needs and where any entry point will lead to the right services and support.

Key features More choice and control The plan aims to promote independence and give people who use services more choice and control over the way their support is provided, so that they can live the life they choose. Monitoring and evaluation Three methods will be used to monitor the plan’s progress throughout its life and will come together in a consolidated evaluation report at the completion of the plan. The views of people with a disability, their families and carers are the main way that the government will know whether the plan is making the right changes.

How will the plan work? The plan works to make changes in four interconnected areas. These are the plan’s goals: People with a disability will not be able to benefit fully from changes in one area if the others remain unchanged. The next slide shows the framework of the plan: the plan’s vision, principles, goals and outcomes.

The framework

How will the plan work? Under each goal the plan outlines: Outcomes – the changes in people’s lives that the government expects to see as a result of carrying out the actions in the plan. Indicators – statistical data, used as one way of measuring the results of the actions of the plan. Strategies – paths of action that maximise the impact of the plan by encouraging cross-government work and focusing the plan’s actions on where the government can have the most influence. The next four slides show examples of strategies under their goals.

Goal 1 Some strategies: Improve workforce capacity to meet the learning and development needs of children and students with a disability Improve supported accommodation services Improve the accessibility of health service provision

Goal 2 Some strategies: Better enable people with a disability, families and carers to exercise their rights Build skills and work readiness Increase the voice and representation of people with a disability

Goal 3 Some strategies: Make public transport more accessible Make community facilities and public spaces more accessible and safer Provide accessible information about government services

Goal 4 Some strategies: Maximise choice and control through self-directed supports Work towards building a consolidated human services model through Services Connect Provide respite services that better meet the needs of families and carers

How will we know the plan is working? To find out whether the plan is making the changes that the government expects and to enable adjustments to be made if needed, the government will: consult regularly throughout the plan’s implementation with people with a disability, their families and carers receive regular reports from each department collect statistics on long term changes across the Victorian population of people with a disability, their families and carers. At the completion of the Victorian state disability plan 2013–2016, the results of the monitoring will be brought together in an overall evaluation report.

Thank you Contact details The plan is available in a number of formats on the Victorian state disability plan website. Website www.dhs.vic.gov.au/statedisabilityplan Contact details Post Victorian state disability plan, Office for Disability Department of Human Services GPO Box 4057, Melbourne 3001 Fax (03) 9650 3812 Email statedisabilityplan@dhs.vic.gov.au Phone 1300 880 043 or TTY 9639 2417