Disability Action Plan Health Insurance Commission Table of contents What is the Disability Discrimination Act? 1 Who are people with disabilities? 2 Why have an action plan? 3 Who is the HIC? 3 Mission statement 4 Government Programs 4 Consultation about the Action Plan 5 What does the Action Plan cover? 5 Core strategies for action 6 Timetable of action Planning and policy development 8 Accountability 9 Education and Training 10 Communication 11 Consultation and Participation 13 Accessibility of buildings 15 What is the Disability Discrimination Act? The Disability Discrimination Act (the Act), came into effect in 1 March 1993. It reflects a change in focus from a welfare approach to a rights-based approach to disability issues. It recognises that people with disabilities have the same fundamental rights as all other Australian residents, including the right to participate fully in community life. Over the past ten years there have been a number of significant reforms to enhance opportunities for people with disabilities. These have included major legislative and policy changes such as the Disability Services Act 1986, the 1991 Disability Reform Package and the Recent Commonwealth Disability Strategy 1994. The Commonwealth Disability Strategy 1994 provides a practical framework to meet the Commonwealth's obligations under the Disability Discrimination Act and the United Nations Standard Rules. The Strategy is a ten year planning framework for Commonwealth agencies to improve access to all Commonwealth programs, services and facilities for people with disabilities. The Commonwealth has taken positive steps to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to equal opportunity for people with disabilities, but a great deal remains to be done. Translating policy into concrete action will require a continued effort on the part of Government and a strong partnership with the disability community. Who are people with disabilities? Disability in relation to a person means: total or partial loss of the person's bodily or mental functions; total or partial loss of a part of the body; the presence in the body of organisms causing disease or illness; the presence in the body of organisms capable of causing disease or illness; the malfunction, malformation or disfigurement of a part of the person's body; a disorder or malfunction that results in the person learning differently from a person without the disorder or malfunction; or a disorder, illness or disease that affects a person's thought processes, perception or reality, emotions or judgement or that results in disturbed behaviour. This includes a disability that: presently exists; previously existed but no longer exists; may exist in the future; or is imputed to a person. The Disability Discrimination Act also makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person because he or she is an associate, such as a friend, partner, carer or family member, of a person with disabilities. Why have an action plan? An action plan allows change to occur in a proactive manner rather than just reacting to complaints which are lodged. These plans may be taken into account by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission if complaints are lodged against an agency. The Commonwealth Disability Strategy requires each department and agency to present an action plan to the Commission by 1997. An action plan is about good management and client focus. It is about ensuring that everyone, regardless of their disability, has an opportunity to access the services that are available to all Australians. Who is the Health Insurance Commission (HIC)? The HIC is a Commonwealth statutory authority established by the Health Insurance Commission Act 1973 (the Act). Government activities include Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the Commonwealth Childcare Cash Rebate Scheme, the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register, the Department of Veterans' Affairs Treatment Accounts, the Better Practice Program, and Australian Hearing Services. The HIC also oversees Medibank Private which operates commercially as a not-for-profit private health insurance fund. The HIC processes and pays claims in all these areas and records relevant data. Mission statement The HIC exists to support the delivery of quality health and child care to Australian residents by providing the highest quality benefit payment services and private health insurance services and ensuring that all benefit payments are correctly made for services properly rendered. Government programs Medicare Provides free access to public hospital services for all Australian residents and range of benefits to help meet the cost of medical and other services itemised in the medical, optometrical and dental benefits schedules. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme The Commonwealth Government, through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), subsidises the cost of over 1,200 essential prescription medicines. Most people are unaware that the real cost of some medicines is as high as $500. These subsidies are available to all Australian residents and residents of countries with whom Australia has reciprocal health care agreements. Commonwealth Childcare Cash Rebate Scheme The Commonwealth Childcare Cash Rebate is a Government payment which helps families with the cost of work-related child care. The Australian Childhood Immunisation Register The Register aims to monitor immunisation coverage and service delivery. This enables the identification of regions of high risk, where large numbers of children are without immunisation. It will also enable parents to determine the immunisation status of their child regardless of where in Australia prior immunisation services were rendered prior to the introduction of the Register. Consultation about the Action Plan In the development of this Action Plan all program areas identified fields of responsibility and barriers faced by HIC clients and staff within their own environment. Each area liaised with relevant groups in the development of their own mini action plans that have been incorporated into the HIC's overall plan. A draft plan was also sent to the Office of Disability in the Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services and a national disability consumer organisation for comment prior to the plan's submission to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission. What does the Action Plan cover? The Action Plan outlines actions to be taken by the HIC to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from the HIC's policies, programs, and facilities. The Disability Action Plan covers a variety of issues relating to discrimination against people with disabilities including: actual and potential discriminatory practices; mechanisms to address discrimination; specific time frames for addressing identified problems; and desired outcomes. This Action Plan has been developed after broad consultation across the HIC. It aims to gradually introduce improvements and recognises that attitudinal and systemic change can be a long-term process. The Action Plan contains: a brief outline of the HIC's program and organisational structure; a description of the major barriers facing people with disabilities in relation to the HIC's functions and responsibilities; and responses from specific program areas. Core strategies for action Accessibility of buildings All premises which house HIC functions need to be accessible to people with disabilities. This includes venues where meetings, training courses and conferences are held and buildings where funded services are located. Accessibility to premises does not just mean getting in the door. It also relates to accessing buildings in a dignified way and being able to move around within a building with ease through the means of accessible lifts, toilets, conference rooms, and appropriate signage (such as tactile and audio signs). Communication The HIC must, in consultation with people with disabilities, develop strategies to make information services and documentation accessible for different groups of people with disabilities, taking into account linguistic and cultural needs. Education and training The HIC must, through training and awareness programs, ensure all staff are sensitive to client diversity and its implications for policy formulation, program design and delivery. Such training should involve people with disabilities in developing programs and the provision of training. Supervisors and co-workers must also be aware of the abilities or needs of people with disabilities in the workplace or the adjustments that can easily be made to assist them to reach their full potential in the workplace. Consultation and participation The HIC must consult with people with disabilities on policy development, program design, delivery and the effectiveness of equal opportunity measures. Consultative mechanisms need to be strengthened so that the views of people with disabilities continue to be heard in meaningful ways. The inclusion of people with disabilities in advisory and review processes will increase the likelihood of their needs being taken into account in the evaluation of existing services and the design of new programs. The HIC must seek equitable participation of representatives of groups of people with disabilities in government advisory and review bodies and processes. Planning To ensure equitable access is provided for people with disabilities to all aspects of Commonwealth activity, the HIC is expected to incorporate access and equity objectives into corporate planning and relevant program and service delivery planning. Coordination A cooperative approach in the implementation of the Commonwealth Disability Strategy and disability policy more generally will save time, resources and duplication of effort. Accountability The HIC must be accountable to the community and to government for the provision of equitable and accessible public services and programs to all persons entitled to that service. Employment Ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to employment opportunities within the HIC and ensure that facilities, conditions and the way we conduct our business caters to the needs of people with disabilities. Core strategy: Planning and policy development Issue Action Area Time Outcomes Social justice planning for people with disabilities should be integrated with other access and equity planning and reporting processes and general corporate planning Incorporate issues/actions in HIC planning processes Highlight actions/issues in corporate, State and divisional planning processes All areas Ongoing More formal practices in place for developing, implementing and measuring success of strategies Monitoring and Evaluation of Equity and Diversity within HIC Development of three year strategic plan Work Environment Group Feb 1997 HIC will have a plan that incorporates issues facing people with disabilities Progress consistent with Action Plan needs to be demonstrated and Action Plan regularly revised Coordination of reporting against Action Plan Government Promotions Annually Progress reports prepared and distributed throughout HIC and to Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission Implementation of Plan by State offices and customer service centres All programs and development strategies in State offices and customer service centres to incorporate disability issues State offices and customer service centres Ongoing Action Plan implemented in States Core strategy: Accountability Issue Action Area Time Outcomes A need to recognise and promote efforts relating to implementation of disability strategy Reporting in Annual Report Parliamentary Liaison Annually Setting a benchmark from which to work and improve reporting on progress of disability strategy Personnel policies and practices Equity and Diversity principles to be consistently applied in all areas of strategic and management planning All management areas Ongoing Increased awareness and application of principles and practices throughout HIC Ensure that staff with disabilities have the same access to Home Based Work as other staff Personnel Ongoing Increased recognition of rights of people with disabilities Monitor/report on progress of Equity and Diversity objectives Work Environment Group States Annual Highlight access and equity issues Extract information on national and overseas trends as to best practice assimilation of staff with disabilities Work Environment Group Ongoing Greater resource base when dealing with needs of people with disabilities Core strategy: Education and training Issue Action Area Time Outcomes Training and management staff need to be able to train staff in meeting the needs of people with disabilities Undertake a Train the Trainer Conference Government Promotions 1997 Trainers and senior management will be better equipped to train staff in Central and State offices to recognise and meet issues facing people with disabilities Training and development Encourage staff who are applying to attend courses to identify any special needs Staff Development Branch Training areas in States Ongoing Better understanding of needs of people with disabilities by staff Core strategy: Communication Issue Action Area Time Outcomes HIC program information needs to be available in other than existing formats The provision of information on disk or other electronic formats as appropriate on request. This includes making information available through the Internet To look into the viability of using braille and audio cassette Government Promotions/ Personnel Ongoing Will help to meet the needs of people with a range of disabilities who have trouble accessing information on HIC programs through existing communication channels Information and issues relating to HIC programs need to be advertised/ promoted in a diverse range of publications to reach the disabled community Research and advertise in a range of publications targeted towards people with disabilities Government Promotions 1997 Increased communication channels for people with disabilities accessing information about HIC programs More effort needs to be made to reach a wider range of HIC clients Have information included on Radio for the Print Handicapped Government Promotions 1996/7 Greater access to issues relating to HIC programs by a range of people including many with disabilities Limited TTY service Investigate potential of expanding existing TTY service Government Promotions 1997 Improved facility for people with hearing impairments to access HIC services Core strategy: Communication Issue Action Area Time Outcomes Little or no contact with relevant bodies Improve communication with relevant bodies and seek input into decision making processes Government Promotions 1997 Improved communication with relevant bodies resulting in improved services for people with disabilities Advertising positions Publicise the HIC in the media in ways that will attract applicants with disabilities Investigate the use of other media to advertise positions e.g TTY, computer disk, to attract people with disabilities Encourage applicants with disabilities to identify themselves and state any special needs relating to job information and interview arrangements Personnel areas in States and CO Personnel areas in States and CO Personnel areas in States and CO Ongoing 1997 Ongoing Use of non-mainstream media for selected positions Better understanding of communication methods to reach people with disabilities High participation of people with disabilities in position applications Eliminating harassment and unlawful discrimination Provide information to all staff on the relevant provisions of the DDA relating to employment in Action Plan and the Equity and Diversity Strategic Plan Staff Development Branch Work Environment Group Ongoing Greater awareness of issues surrounding, and decreased incidences of, discrimination against people with disabilities Staff members who are carers Provide information to staff on resources and options for staff members who are carers of people with disabilities including extracts from Terms and Conditions of Service e.g leave provisions Work Environment Group Personnel areas in States and CO Ongoing Greater awareness of resources available relevant to people with disabilities Core strategy: Consultation and participation Issue Action Area Time Outcomes Staffing Provide a forum by which staff with disabilities can discuss their needs and problems that arise including those returning to work with permanent or temporary disabilities Personnel areas in States and CO Ongoing Greater awareness and identification of concerns for people with disabilities Consultation Consult with disabled groups in preparation of initial Disability Action Plan Consult with other Government departments (esp Dept of Health and Family Services) and other relevant community organisations to adopt best practice principles Government Promotions 1996 Ongoing Betting understanding of disability issues Utilise existing resources and compare and contrast other approaches to disability issues Mobility The merit principle will operate at all times in matters of staff rotation or transfer Personnel areas in States and CO Ongoing Greater skills base for HIC Supervisors Provide access to training about building teams that include people with disabilities to first line supervisors Staff Development Branch State training areas Ongoing Improved training practices Core strategy: Consultation and participation Issue Action Area Time Outcomes Physical environment Under the principle of reasonable adjustment, provide any relevant equipment and other support needed to assist staff with disabilities to perform their duties including any changes to duties. Ensure that the work-stations and associated equipment e.g PCs, telephones, software are adaptable for staff with disabilities Work Environment Group States Work Environment Group Personnel areas in States and CO Ongoing As required Better facilities for people with disabilities Participation Provide support and publicity for support networks of staff with disabilities - encourage groups to liaise with other relevant external groups and organisations Work Environment Group Staff Staff Development Branch Personnel areas in States and CO Ongoing Encourage communication between people with disabilities within the HIC and the establishment of support groups Core strategy: Accessibility of buildings Issue Action Area Time Outcomes Physical environment Buildings must be accessible to staff, clients and visitors with disabilities Ensure that all premises occupied by the HIC meet the relevant standards for access by people with disabilities and that adequate funds and other resources are provided to ensure compliance with these standards The HIC will ensure that accessibility issues are incorporated as a component of any agreed "scope of works" concerning initial fit-out, refurbishment and new construction of HIC premises Finance and Planning in association with States Finance and Planning Division in association with States Ongoing Ongoing Buildings accessible and "friendly" to people with disabilities Building accessible to people with a disability in both a practical and legalistic sense Coordination Use reference groups to consider and advise on refurbishment and new construction/fitouts Finance and Planning Ongoing Better focus of the needs of people with disabilities