The Government of Queensland has announced a new plan to improve access to disability services Queensland. The plan aims to improve the life chances of people with disabilities by promoting an inclusive culture across government. It will seek to work with industry and business to develop inclusive strategies, and with community organisations and people with disabilities to promote their inclusion. It will also encourage and support people to connect across sectors. There are many ways that the government of Queensland is making these changes to ensure people with disabilities have access to the services and supports they need.
The new plan outlines a series of priorities for improving access to disability support in Queensland. Each priority is described by a set of performance indicators that outline the change that will occur if the priority is achieved. These indicators will be measured using existing data sources, including population surveys by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and annual reports by state government departments about DSPs. They will align with the measures that governments agreed to under the National Disability Strategy.
Access to mainstream technologies and assistive technology will improve the life opportunities of Queenslanders with disability. Increasing access to the National Broadband Network will provide an opportunity to reassess the ways services are delivered. The network will offer new options to deliver a range of services over broadband, telephone, mobile devices, and videoconferencing. People living with disability should be empowered to participate in their communities and improve their quality of life through increased use of technology.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a government program that aims to increase access to health, educational, and other services for people with disabilities. Queenslanders can access the NDIS support through a local office or through the National Disability Gateway. Healthdirect, a trusted information partner, will help individuals and families with disabilities find the appropriate services and support in their community. In addition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Queensland has a program called Better Start for Children with Disabilities, which helps children get the best start possible.
The department of communities will support the Absolutely Everyone plan by raising awareness of it across Queensland. It will support local action through the Queensland Disability Advisory Council, and will help to create partnerships across industry, government, and the community. There are many other ways that these plans can help people with disabilities. In addition to fostering social networks, they will promote a sense of belonging and community connections. It will also assist them with gaining independence support services.
The government should also make people aware of their rights. They should embed these into policy and legislation and recognise that some people need support to exercise their rights. In particular, people with disabilities are disproportionately represented in the criminal justice system. The Disabled Justice report identified that between four and fourteen per cent of adult inmates in Queensland's adult correctional facilities have an intellectual disability. Their disability may compound disadvantages, particularly for Indigenous people.
