The Community Services Directorate marked the International Day of People with Disability (I-Day) last week with the release of a progress report on its Disability Justice Strategy.
In its Disability Justice Strategy: Second Annual Progress Report, the Directorate summarised the progress made against each of the actions contained in the First Action Plan 2019-2023 of the Strategy.
“This Report marks the half-way point for the First Action Plan, which sets out the actions for the first four years of the Disability Justice Strategy,” the Directorate said.
“It provides an opportunity to acknowledge the changes which have occurred, the positive progress made, the challenges being experienced and to assess the work which still needs to be done,” it said.
“There is a significant amount of work ahead, but the Disability Justice Strategy is already bringing about real and meaningful change for people with disability in contact with the justice system.”
The Directorate said some actions were affected by factors which required a shift in approach and resulted in implementation delays, including an action related to data collection and publication which was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and by plans at a national level to develop a national disability data asset.
Community Services said this project would inform and support ACT justice sector Agencies in the collection and publication of data relating to disability.
“Significant progress has been achieved in the second year of the First Action Plan, including the establishment of an active community of practice whose members are driving cultural change to improve access to justice for people with disability,” it said.
“This core group will support the implementation of many of the remaining actions in the First Action Plan and help to imbed inclusive and accessible practices across the justice sector. “
The Directorate said a key priority in the coming months would be the completion and implementation of the evaluation framework for the Disability Justice Strategy to ensure progress was measured and evaluated against better outcomes for people with disability.
“This will also help to track the sustainability of changes implemented during the First Action Plan and inform development of the Second Action Plan,” it said.
Community Services said other high-priority items included finalisation and roll out of disability training for the justice sector; the trial of identification and screening tools in justice Agencies; and the development of Disability Action and Inclusion Plans across justice and Government organisations.
The Directorate’s 30-page Progress Report can be accessed at this PS News link.
