Page 3985 - Week 11 - Thursday, 26 September 2019
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There are many ACT government initiatives where we make inclusion happen, such as the annual Connect and Participate Expo, which aims to address social exclusion in the community, especially amongst those who experience disadvantage and those who are at risk of social isolation. The expo showcases the range of opportunities available for Canberrans to join and participate in local interest groups and social clubs.
The disability justice strategy is part of the ACT government’s vision for an inclusive society that gives everyone the chance to participate in community life and leaves no-one behind. The ACT disability reference group provides strategic whole-of-government advice on ways in which the ACT can be a more inclusive community for people with disability. In 2018-19 the disability reference group worked towards reinvigorating the ACT disability commitment; increasing the rate of employment of people with disability; achieving better health outcomes for Canberrans with disability; and reducing the disproportionate levels, and often adverse outcomes, of people with disability in the ACT justice systems.
The annual disability inclusion grant program aims to have a positive impact on the lives of people with disability and shift community attitudes towards inclusion. The grants allow community groups, organisations and small businesses to apply for grants that enable people with disability to better participate in and access services, businesses and groups in the community. A total of $100,000 was available in the 2019 grant round, and I am looking forward to announcing the successful recipients in October 2019.
The ACT government is working with the Department of Social Services on the development of a national disability framework to replace the national disability strategy, which expires in 2020. The updated ACT disability commitment to the national disability strategy is called “Involved” and will be launched in 2019. The Involved platform has been shaped by the stakeholder engagement and consultation plan and will assist the mainstream community to be more inclusive, benefiting the 56,000 Canberrans with disability who are currently not eligible for the NDIS.
The Involved web platform will include information and detail about a range of ACT government strategic initiatives, including the partnership between the ACT Inclusion Council and the Canberra Business Chamber to generate jobs for people with disability; the work of ACTCOSS, ADACAS and other community partners on changing the health experience for people with disability; the supported decision-making project that Advocacy for Inclusion and ADACAS are working on, in partnership with government, to respond to the Law Reform Advisory Council recommendations on reform to guardianship; initiatives being progressed by the 23 successful disability inclusion grant applicants over 2017-18 and 2018-19; resources and information about disability housing options, including videos and summaries from the having a home forum in November 2018; progress on the activities within the first action plan of the ACT disability justice strategy; and work to inform and enhance the NDIS in the ACT.
The national disability strategy represents an important step in closing the gap between the lived experience of people with disability and the rest of the Australian
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