The WA government has added its weight behind people with disability. NDS WA State Manager Julie Waylen applauds the move.
All West Australians have the right to full citizenship of our community. By that, I mean everyone is equally entitled to full social, economic and civic inclusion and the opportunity to lead a great life.
However, this is not always the case for the one in five of citizens who have a disability.
Creating a Western Australia in which people with disability are equally included has long been a priority, and while much has been achieved since the introduction of the Disability Services Act in 1993 to build accessible and inclusive communities, many people with disability still don’t have the same opportunities.
A Western Australia for Everyone: State Disability Strategy 2020-2030 was unveiled by Disability Services Minister Stephen Dawson in December and sets out a vision to make WA a place where people with disability have a fair chance, are engaged and feel empowered to live as they choose.
In essence, it seeks to create a community where everyone belongs.
Disability is a part of everyday life. More than 411,000 West Australians have a disability and 68,000 are carers for a friend or family member with a disability.
National Disability Services, which represents more than 100 disability service providers in WA, has long championed the creation of such a strategy to promote the social and economic participation of people with disability as well as investment in a strong disability services sector that can provide high quality and safe services.
The strategy outlines investment in a strong state disability ecosystem for those eligible for the NDIS as well as people with disability who are ineligible.
Importantly, the strategy will maximise the benefits of NDIS for West Australians with disability, providing opportunity to do more and build on what works, what can be improved and explore new frontiers and innovation.
However, commitment to change is not only about what governments can do. The opportunity for people with disability to fully participate in the life of the Western Australian community can only be realised if it is matched with an increased capacity of communities to include people with disability in all facets of community life.
The strategy outlines a new ‘whole of community’ commitment to changing the lives of people with disability and is grounded in four foundational pillars of participation and contribution; inclusive communities; living well; and rights and equality.
The first pillar highlights key areas where change is needed to create a WA where people with disabilities can fully contribute and participate. These include greater support to access education and learning; equal opportunities for employment; and workplace cultures that make jobs sustainable and provide opportunities for advancement.
Creating more inclusive communities involves ensuring that public buildings, facilities and other community spaces are designed for everyone; that everyone is welcomed and included in recreational, social, cultural and economic activities, including tourism opportunities; everyone has a range of transport options and technology is accessible and available.
Thirdly, a focus on living well encompasses access to suitable housing options, quality disability services and supports and health and mental health services to ensure people with disability have good health and wellbeing outcomes throughout their lives.
Finally, rights and equality highlight that achieving equal rights for people with disability means being treated fairly and with dignity before the law, being safe from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, having a voice and, where required, support to communicate and make decisions and having access to the right information.
A Western Australia for Everyone is a good starting point to work toward improving the inclusion of people with disability in our state.
First phase of the WA plan
An action plan was launched alongside the State Disability Strategy with commitments including:
- a $5 million innovation fund,
- increasing the number of specialist disability accommodation properties
in WA by enrolling about 400 state-owned houses, - ensuring ACROD parking bays are better monitored and penalties enforced for parking infringements,
- supporting women with disability with two new accessible family and domestic violence refuges, and
- increasing the representation of people with disability employed in the public sector to 5% by the end of 2025.