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Implementation of the Commonwealth Disability Strategy (CDS) is the responsibility of all managers. Managers are increasingly aware of the need to consider diversity issues in the course of policy development, including the impact on people with disabilities. Employees from across the Department attended workshops run by the Office of Disability to ensure that the CDS and new reporting framework are understood throughout the organisation.
The Department's Service Charter, Strategic Plan and Values and Behaviours Framework all recognise the diversity of the Australian community and the Charter provides a formal complaints mechanism. No complaints were lodged during the year.
In some areas of the Department, 100 per cent of development of new or revised programs included consultation with or an assessment of the impact on the lives of people with disabilities. The Telecommunications Service Inquiry, to which the Government responded, both undertook consultations and considered the impact on the lives of people with disabilities. Captioning standards, applying to both analog and digital broadcasting transmissions, came into effect in metropolitan areas in January 2001 and will be introduced progressively in regional areas by December 2003. Organisations representing deaf and hearing-impaired members of the community were consulted in the formulation of the legislative amendments and the development of the regulations.
The Department's website is under redevelopment and will be 100 per cent compliant with W3C and Bobby guidelines, in line with the Department's commitment to the Government's Online Strategy. One hundred per cent of media announcements of new policies and programs were available on the Internet in html format and no requests were received for information in other formats. The Department uses Auslan interpreters where appropriate. The Department makes all publicly available information available through the website and the Corporate Communications area makes material available in other formats when requested.
Departmental grants programs have mechanisms in place to report on funding recommendations related to people with disabilities and the Department's Standard Grant Deed requires compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. The Television Fund Unit has provision for audio formats from a -freecall 1800' telephone service. The AccessAbility Grants program will improve access to the Internet and online services for people with disabilities. Every project requires involvement of people with disabilities, information is accessible on the website, information has been provided in alternative formats and Auslan interpreters utilised.
Support for radio for the print handicapped is provided through the Department's annual grant to the Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF). Feedback to the CBF is that information is easily accessible and the CBF funding processes are conducted with the full involvement of print handicapped organisations.
The disabled access area at the front of Old Parliament House has been improved and assistants have attended training and development programs, specifically to understand the needs of hearing impaired and visually impaired people.
The Culture and Recreation portal provides online information resources with search facilities and activities for people with disabilities within the culture and recreation sectors.
The Department has a policy of a discrimination free workplace, reinforced in the Certified Agreement, the Values and Behaviours Framework and the workplace diversity program. The Certified Agreement provides for a complaints mechanism and support is provided to staff through the Human Resource Management Section and the EAP counselling service. All contracts entered into by the Department are consistent with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
Questacon'
Questacon has started work on a full strategic approach to the CDS, to ensure that the Centre's facilities, products and associated information are accessible to all, in accordance with its mission of -making science fun and relevant for everyone'. Customer comments are gathered through surveys and through the Centre's Customer Service Charter feedback forms, which are made available to all visitors. The overall satisfaction rate is 95 per cent, and action is taken where appropriate in response to individual comments. Of the 89 people who used a Customer Service Charter feedback form to comment on whether their special needs were catered for, 83 per cent were satisfied.
Questacon's website was upgraded during the year to improve accessibility and has almost achieved compliance with the Priority 1 level of the World Wide Web consortium's Accessibility Guidelines.
All Questacon's facilities management and building works programs address disability access issues. All employment policies, procedures and practices are consistent with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. Complaints and grievance mechanisms are fully documented and accessible to all staff in electronic and printed versions.
An aggregated table addressing the current level of performance for 2000-2001 against the performance indicators for each role other than the Employer role, is below.
ScreenSound Australia'
ScreenSound Australia will report separately on implementation of the CDS in its Annual Report.
Commonwealth Disability Strategy-performance reporting framework
[Does not incorporate details relating to ScreenSound Australia or Questacon]
[Percentage figures are indicative only]
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POLICY ADVISOR ROLE |
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Performance Indicator |
Performance Measure |
Current level of performance 2000-2001 |
Goals for 2001-2002 |
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1 New or revised program/policy proposals assess impact on the lives of people with disabilities (PWD) prior to decision. |
Percentage of new or revised policy or program proposals that document the impact of the porposal on pwd was considered prior to the decision making stage.
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Broadcasting-16 per cent. Captioning standards for digital and analog television, required by regulations under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, came into effect in metropolitan areas on 1.1.2001 and will be introduced progressively in regional areas before 31.12.2003.
Telecommunications-46 per cent. The Governments response to the Telecommunications Service Inquiry included a number of policies and programs that may impact in different ways on the lives of PWD. Extensive consultation was undertaken, including with organisations representing consumer, community or industry groups including PWD.
Arts-not applicable. |
Greater percentage of new or revised policies assess the impact on the lives of PWD and document it.
Department to examine options for recording consideration of impact on PWD as part of the New Policy Proposal process.
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2 PWD are included in consultations about new or revised policy/program proposals. |
Percentage of consultations about new or revised policy/program proposals that are developed in consultation with PWD. |
Telecommunications-75 per cent. The Telecommunications Service Inquiry consulted with PWD.
Broadcasting-16 per cent. Organisations representing deaf and hearing impaired people were consulted in formulation of the legislative amendments and the development of captioning standards regulations.
Arts-not applicable. |
Increase in percentage of new or revised policies consulting PWD. |
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3 Public announcements of new, revised or proposed policy/program initiatives are available in accessible formats for PWD in a timely manner. |
Percentage of new, revised or proposed policy/program announcements available in a range of accessible formats.
Time taken in providing announcements in accessible formats. |
100 per cent of media announcements re new policies/programs were available on the Internet in html.
No requests received for information in other formats. One announcement included an Auslan interpreter. |
One hundred per cent of electronic information is available in an accessible format at the time of the public announcement, with guidelines in place for producing material in accessible formats.
One hundred per cent of customers requesting information in accessible formats (other than electronic) will be responded to within five days of the request by the responsible line area.
DOCITA website to be 100 per cent compliant with W3C and Bobby guidelines in accordance with the Department's commitment to the Government's Online Strategy. |
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REGULATOR ROLE |
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Performance Indicator |
Performance Measure |
Current level of performance 2000-2001 |
Goals for 2001-2002 |
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1. Publicly available information on regulations and quasi-regulations is available in accessible formats for PWD.
2. Publicly available regulatory compliance reporting is available in accessible formats for PWD. |
1. Percentage of publicly available information on regulations and quasi-regulations requested and provided in:
- accessible electronic formats; and
- accessible formats other than electronic
Average time taken to provide accessible material in:
- electronic format: and
- formats other than electronic
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One hundred per cent-all material was either available on the department's website or in hard copy on request.
No requests for information in alternative formats was received. |
One hundred per cent of electronic information is available in an accessible format at the time of the public announcement.
One hundred per cent of customers requesting information in accessible formats (other than electronic) will be responded to within five days of the request.
DOCITA website to be 100 per cent compliant with W3C and Bobby guidelines in accordance with the Department's commitment to the Government's Online Strategy. |
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PURCHASER ROLE |
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Performance Indicator |
Performance Measure |
Current level of performance 2000-2001 |
Goals for 2001-2002 |
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1 Publicly available information on agreed purchasing specifications are available in accessible formats for PWD. |
Percentage of publicly available purchasing specifications requested and provided in:
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Twenty-seven per cent of documentation for open tender processes available online.
One hundred percent of grant program guidelines available online. Formats other than electronic available on request. Easy English print advertising in national and regional newspapers. Television Fund Unit has audio formats 'freecall 1800' telephone service.
Community Broadcasting Foundation grant website is accessible by people with a print handicap.
AccessAbility Grant program: Text only or rtf versions on disk and large format print versions have been provided on request. Auslan interpreters provided at conferences and major marketing events. Alternative accessible formats used for registration forms for conferences. |
One hundred per cent of open tenders to be available online.
One hundred per cent of customers requesting information in accessible formats (other than electronic) will be responded to within five days of the request by the responsible line area.
DOCITA website to be 100 per cent compliant with W3C and Bobby guidelines in accordance with the Department's commitment to the Government's Online Strategy.
Arts touring grants programs to review documentation and ensure the use of plain English. |
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2 Processess for purchasing goods or services with a direct impact on the lives of PWD are developed in consultation with PWD. |
Percentage of processes for purchasing goods or services that directly impact on the lives of PWD that are developed in consultation with PWD. |
One hundred per cent-AccessAbility program has a direct impact on the lives of people with disabilities. Every project funded was required to involve representatives of the target group at all stages including a 'client strategy'. Grant to the Community Broadcasting Foundation was developed in consultation with print handicapped organisations. |
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3 Purchasing specifications and contract requirements for the purchase of goods and services are consistent with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. |
Percentage of purchasing specifications for goods and services that specify tender organisations must comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
Percentage of contracts for the purchase of goods and services that require the contractor to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. |
The Department's standard contracts and grant deed require compliance with Commonwealth legislation including the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. Draft contracts are supplied with tender documentation, meaning that all tender organisations are aware of requirements.
Any websites developed as a result of funding are required by the contract to comply with W3C WAI guidelines.
Community Broadcasting Foundation grant-underlying purpose of funding for RPH radio stations is consistent with Disability Discrimination Act. |
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4 Publicily available performance reporting against the purchase contract specifications requested in accessible formats for PWD is provided. |
Percentage of publicly available performance reports against the contract purchasing specification requested and provided in:
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Available online in accessible electronic format. Other accessible formats on request. |
One hundred per cent of customers requesting information in accessible formats (other than electronic) will be responded to within five days of the request.
DOCITA website to be 100 per cent compliant with W3C and Bobby guidelines in accordance with the Department's commitment to the Government's Online Strategy. |
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5 Complaints/grievance mechanisms, including access to external mechanisms, in place to address concerns raised about provider's performance. |
Established complaints/grievance mechanisms, including access to external mechanisms, in operations. |
The Department's Service Charter outlines a formal complaints mechanism.
No complaints were lodged during the year.
In addition, the Television Fund unit 'freecall 1800' telephone service provides an avenue for complaints and grievances. Processes for handling concerns about provider's performance are well established in the Television Fund Unit.
(No disability related issues have been raised about the service provider's performance). |
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PROVIDER ROLE |
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Performance Indicator |
Performance Measure |
Current level of performance 2000-2001 |
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1 Providers have established mechanisms for quality improvement and assurance. |
Evidence of quality improvement and assurance systems in operation. |
Old Parliament House and National Portrait Gallery take account of a range of social justice and equity issues when designing public programs. The front of Old Parliament House disabled access has been improved.
NPG assistants attended training to understand the needs of the hearing and visually impaired. Multiple copies of large format labels are provided for visitors. Devising a program for blind visitors in conjunction with National Gallery of Australia.
NPG hosted educational programs for students who are intellectually disabled.
Arts-New Media Section utilised a 1800 telephone service for the ArtsInfo program. Service had facilities for people with
hearing disabilities.
Culture and Recreation Portal (online) designed to be accessible for those using disability related browsers. Has a category allowing users to search on facilities and/or activities for those with disabilities within the culture and recreation sectors. |
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2 Providers have an established service charter that specifies the roles of the provider and consumer and service standards which address accessibility for PWD. |
Established service charter that adequately reflects the needs of people with disabilities in operation. |
Departmental Service Charter addresses diversity concerns. |
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3 Complaints/grievance mechanisms, including access to external mechanisms, in place to address concerns raised about performance. |
Established complaints/grievance mechanisms, including access to external mechanisms, in operation. |
The Department's Client Service Charter outlines the formal complaints mechanism.
No complaints lodged this year. | | 
