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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2004 Week 04 Hansard (Thursday, 1 April 2004) . . Page.. 1628 ..

• The status of the Draft Framework is as follows:

o The development of the Framework has the support of the Commissioner for Public Administration and the Chief Executives of the ACTPS.

o A final draft of the Disability Employment Framework will be presented by the consultant, to the Government at the end of May for consideration.

o The framework was further developed on 5 March 2004 in the form of a half-day cross-agency Human Resources Forum.

• As the member would be aware, employment programs for people with a disability are funded by the Commonwealth. As part of the Draft Framework’s initial consultation officers from CMD and DHCS met with the members of the Network of Employment and Training Association (NETA) including the Work Ways agency which is an open employment agency providing services to clients who have been diagnosed with a mental illness.

• The NETA affiliated employment agencies have identified existing barriers to placing their clients in the ACTPS and have made suggestions to assist in the recruitment of people with disabilities into the ACT Public Service. These are being considered in the development of the Framework.

• Consultations within the ACT Government in developing the Framework have already resulted in identification of opportunities for an enhanced capacity within the ACT to promote and access funds from the Commonwealth’s New Apprenticeship program for people with a disability.

• In addition to these initiatives, Mental Health ACT (ACT Health) fund the Schizophrenia Fellowship which provides supported employment, short-term training and rehabilitation for people with mental dysfunction and mental illnesses. The Schizophrenia Fellowship currently assists 100 clients annually.

• The Rainbow, auspiced by the ACT Mental Health Foundation, provides psychosocial rehabilitation, which incorporates occasional vocational skills programs.

Public service—cultural backgrounds
(Question No 1310)

Mrs Burke asked the Chief Minister, upon notice, on 2 March 2004:

(1) Do people from culturally diverse backgrounds currently experience any difficulty in attaining managerial or policy positions within the ACT Public Service; if so, why;

(2) What is the ratio of people from culturally diverse backgrounds that currently hold such positions within the ACT Public Service compared to other groups;

(3) Are there any current problems within the ACT Public Service in relation to racial or group discrimination;

(4) Are there any inequities within our Public Service system that would cause people from culturally diverse backgrounds undue distress in relation to possible job promotion;

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