The Department of Communities (Communities) is seeking the views of Western Australians on its Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP) 2022-2027.

Your feedback will help Communities to finalise the plan, which undertook previous consultation with the community and agency staff.

Communities DAIP 2022-2027 is strongly aligned to the principles of A Western Australia for Everyone: State Disability Strategy 2020-2030(External link), that aims to work towards a fully inclusive and accessible community.

This five-year DAIP will guide Communities to improve practice and policy focused on people with disability. It will also outline the actions, timeframes and responsibilities to be able to achieve set goals.

A final draft of the DAIP 2022-2027 is located on their website(External link) in PDF, Word and Easy Read formats, and is open for feedback.

How to provide feedback

Comment is accepted in the following ways:

• complete the survey(External link)
• write a formal submission, letter or email.

Virtual meetings (video chats) are also available. This is by appointment only. Please email DAIPfeedback@communities.wa.gov.au(External link) to arrange.

All submissions are due by 11pm Sunday, 8 May 2022.

Feedback can be emailed to DAIPfeedback@communities.wa.gov.au(External link), or sent in by post:

Department of Communities – Office of Disability (DAIP feedback)
Locked Bag 5000
Fremantle WA 6959

What they want to know

They’re interested in your feedback about the strategies included in this draft DAIP.

You can give them your feedback about the DAIP overall. Or you may wish to give feedback on the strategies in each of the pillars, or just some of the pillars. Whatever you prefer.

Who they want to hear from

Communities wants to hear from all Western Australians who would like to contribute.

They would particularly value feedback from:

• people with lived experience, including people with disability or family members, carers or guardians of people with disability
• advocacy or representative groups
• other interested individuals, representatives or organisations.

Confidentiality

Feedback received through submissions, letters and emails may be made publicly available online (via WA.gov.au) or may be quoted in reports and publications produced by Communities.

If you prefer your name to remain confidential, please tell them that in your feedback. Please note however that feedback provided to Communities can be subject to freedom of information requests, so please do not include any personal or confidential information about yourself that you do not wish to become available to the public.

People With disability Australia are hosting an Election Participation & Disability Webinar

The Department of Communities invites you to apply now for membership to the Disability Services Commission Board.

If you are interested in an opportunity to promote and advocate better life outcomes and experiences for people with disability, we want to hear from you.

Applications are invited from people with disability, family members/carers, advocates and others with knowledge and expertise of disability.

Email Boards_Committees@communities.wa.gov.au for an application pack.

Submissions close at 4:00pm on Saturday, 16 April 2022

Community consultation on Stage 2 reforms of the Transport Standards now open!

Consultation on Stage 2 reforms of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (Transport Standards) is now open from 15 March 2022 to 9 August 2022.

Stage 2 reforms of the Transport Standards includes 54 reform areas, detailed in 61 chapters in the Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) for public consultation (located in the documents section).

You can find additional information including in other languages here: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/infrastructure-transport-vehicles/transport-accessibility/reform-transport-standards/stage-2-reforms(External link)

“Tell your story” through the online surveys, in writing, by video or by audio recording via email, by telephone or by taking part in one of the public consultations held across the country, details on how can be found here: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/have-your-say/stage-2-reform-disability-standards-accessible-public-transport-2002(External link)

The Department has also arranged free public viewing access to referenced Australian Standards listed in the Consultation RIS. This will be made available by Standards Australia to ensure the broader community has an opportunity to review the standards as part of the consultation process. The standards will be available to view during the following dates:

• Tuesday 19 April to Friday 20 May 2022 (5 weeks)
• Tuesday 7 June to Tuesday 9 August 2022 (9 weeks)

If you have any queries on Stage 2 reforms, would like to assist the Department to promote the CRIS or want more info on how use the attached stakeholder pack please contact us on 1800 621 372 or email DisabilityTransport@infrastructure.gov.au(External link)

The recent Minister’s DAIP Report, tabled in Parliament late last year, is now available at https://www.wa.gov.au/system/files/2022-01/DAIP-Progress-Report-2020-21.pdf(External link)

The progress reports submitted by all public authorities small and large, metro, regional and remote last year, including by the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale, have been used to inform the report.

The passion, creativity and dedication of individuals across authorities whose contributions have made their organisations and communities more welcoming, accessible and inclusive is recognised by the Minister and the Department of Communities.

The National Disability Services administers the ACROD Parking Program, the Companion Card Program and the distribution of Changing Places keys to eligible Western Australians on behalf of the WA State Government.

To ensure as many people as possible are aware of the services and the eligibility criteria, we are offering free information sessions throughout February for people who may be directly eligible for one or more of the services.

Due to the current COVID mandates, these sessions will be offered online via Microsoft Teams.

Community Presentation

Community Presentation - NDS ACROD CC and MLAK hosted online, running between 1st and 28th of February
Book here(External link)

Sessions are also available for Allied health practitioners who may be referring their customers.

Allied Health Practitioners Presentation

Allied Health Presentation - NDS ACROD CC and MLAK hosted online, running between 3rd and 24th of February
Book here(External link)

Take the survey now! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EKIP(External link)

Survey closes 14 January 2022

To everyone in our community of all abilities, we’re celebrating YOU today for International Day of People with Disability.

To recognise the importance of access and inclusion in our community, we’re showcasing the Auslan Basics Workshops which have been delivered to 16 residents over the past two months.

Thank you to the participants for completing the 8-week course, and to Domenico Ventura and the team at Access Plus for their support in delivering the Auslan classes.

Growing a more inclusive community, together.

#IDPwD #IDPwD2021 #sjshire #growingtogether

The Community Disability Advocacy Project is seeking to identify opportunities for community driven solutions to local issues affecting people living with disabilities that promotes their right to self-determination, autonomy, and choice.

Community Disability Advocates from People With disabilities WA (PWdWA), Advocacy WA, and Sussex Street Community Law Service are seeking people living with disabilities, family members, carers as well as local government and non-government representatives to design a model for how communities can come together to solve local issues impacting people with disabilities.

To express your interest in being involved in the co-design process, please complete the survey by clicking here.(External link) Please note, some of the application questions below ask about your personal lived experience. The information you provide will be kept confidential.

People who will be able to access your responses include: The Community Disability Advocates and the Chief Executive Officers at PWdWA, and Advocacy WA for the purposes of assessing the applications and appointing co-design participants.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Chris Chambers (Community Disability Advocate) at PWdWA on 9420 7279 or by email to chris@pwdwa.org.

If you would like to complete the form over the phone, please contact Chris or Vanessa on 9420 7279.

Thank you to everyone who joined us last Saturday, 30 October, for Wheel LIFE!

Clint Morgan from Rebound WA led more than 30 participants through two sessions and provided an informative and inclusive look into what it is like to live with a physical disability through learning how to play wheelchair basketball.

Growing an inclusive community, together.