Canberrans living with disability are to receive improved health services under a new Canberra Health Services (CHS) inclusion plan.
Welcoming the Disability Action and Inclusion Plan 2022-2025, Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith said the Plan also outlined how CHS would enhance its workplaces to support, include and encourage team members living with disability.
Ms Stephen-Smith said the Plan included actions across four key focus areas: Consumers, their families and carers; CHS’s people; Place; and Community.
She said CHS would strive for the inclusion of people with disability by creating a psychologically safe culture through increased disability awareness, education and the provision of reasonable adjustments.
The Minister said barriers in CHS facilities, systems and processes were to be removed to ensure that people with disability, their families and carers were able to easily and efficiently access services and opportunities within CHS.
“Actions in the Plan include partnering with advocacy or community organisations to develop training for frontline members on supporting people with disability, their families and carers during the consumer journey,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“Canberra Health Services will also review recruitment policies and procedures to identify and remove barriers for potential employees with disability,” she said.
“The Plan also includes actions from the National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability and supports the ACT Disability Strategy and the ACT Disability Health Strategy which are currently being developed.”
Ms Stephen-Smith said ideas and feedback from people with lived experience had been key in developing the Disability Action and Inclusion Plan.
“Canberra Health Services worked in close partnership with people with disability, carers and families, staff and the community to identify actions that will address barriers and promote inclusivity,” the Minister said.
“This ensures the Plan includes meaningful actions that reflect the needs of people with disability – both those accessing health care and those who work at Canberra Health Services.”
