Public Sector Agencies are to be required to develop action plans to make their communities more inclusive and accessible for people living with disability under a new plan from the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ).
Announced by Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services, Alister Henskens, DCJ’s NSW Disability Inclusion Plan 2021–2025 aims to remove systemic and attitudinal barriers to participation in society faced by people living with disability.
“(The Plan) strengthens the State’s accessibility framework and outlines work underway to improve outcomes for people with disability,” Mr Henskens said.
“This four-year plan builds on the work our Government has undertaken to create more accessible and inclusive communities, and provides the blueprint for increasing the social and economic participation of people with disability across NSW,” he said.
“Under the NSW Disability Inclusion Plan, all Public Sector Agencies and local Councils are required to develop action plans to drive positive change in their communities.”
The Minister said key deliverables under the Plan included enhanced services for people with disability through More Jobs More Care; implementation of the NSW Education Disability Strategy; more available and accessible transport options; and building more inclusive play spaces.
“These initiatives are examples of the work our Government Agencies and local Councils are doing to create more inclusive communities, by improving access to services and removing barriers to participating in society,” he said.
“Projects delivered under the previous Disability Inclusion Plan include accessible stations along Sydney’s Metro, lift upgrades at TAFE campuses and the Employable Me TV series, which promoted employment pathways for people with disability,” Mr Henskens said.
DCJ’s 29-page Disability Inclusion Plan can be downloaded at this PS News link.
