Consultation for a new National Disability Strategy from 2020 and beyond is now open. The initial stage of consultation takes place between April and June of this year (2019). Ten years ago, the National Disability Strategy 2010-2020 began a new era of disability policy and services for Australians with disabilities.
By 2013, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) began launching test sites across the country.
The National Disability Strategy 2010-2020 is about creating a more inclusive society that enables Australians with a disability to fulfill their potential as equal citizens.
It is also the main way Australia implements the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Australia, making sure people with disability can participate in all areas of Australian life.
The Strategy is a shared commitment by all governments to work together to improve the lives of Australians with disability by guiding governments and other organisations to build the wellbeing of people with disability and their carers.
Now, as the initial strategy period nears its close at the end of 2020, and the NDIS nears full roll-out, it is time for policymakers and citizens, especially those directly impacted by disability policy, to come together in a consultation phase for the next Disability Strategy, shaping the future of disability policy for 2020 and beyond.
Federal Minister for Families and Social Services, Paul Fletcher MP recently announced that from April, the Australian community can take part in national consultations to shape the future of Australia’s disability policy for 2020 and beyond.
The strategy is a ten-year framework that aims to build a more inclusive and cohesive approach to how all governments design policies and programs, in order to be more inclusive and accessible so that all Australians can participate fully in society. Minister Fletcher said it was imperative that feedback from the community was factored into future policymaking.
“We want to provide an opportunity for the more than four million people with disability, as well as those who love and support them, to shape the new strategy and tell us what is important to [them].”
The consultation process will also consider findings and recommendations from the Productivity Commission’s Report of its Review of the National Disability Agreement, as these are pertinent to the development of an ongoing disability strategy.
The first stage of consultation takes place between April and June 2019.
There will be a range of options available to ensure you can have a say. Importantly, all consultation will be accessible to people will disability.
You can have your say through:
- Open public survey (available from mid-April).
- Face-to-face community workshops to be held nationwide (from 29 April onwards).
- Online forum (beginning from mid-May).
For more information, including frequently asked questions and Easy Read factsheets or to register your interest, visit www.engage.dss.gov.au
Information sourced from the Engage DSS website and the Ministers for the Department of Social Services media release.
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