Our actions

Late 2021 - June 2024

• Percentage of successful employment outcomes for people with disability following participation in SQW.
• Percentage of people with disability participating in the SQW initiative.

1.2 Empower diverse small businesses to access support and assistance available through the Big Plans for Small Business Strategy and other Department of Employment, Small Business and Training services by:

• Developing a Small Business Engagement Framework that is responsive to the needs of people with disability.
• Providing the Mentoring for Growth program to all abilities business owners.

Late 2021 - June 2024

• Reported economic participation of people with disability.
• Reported economic independence of people with disability.

Late 2021 - June 2024

• Percentage of employees with disability employed in the Queensland Public Sector.

Early 2022 - December 2024

• The new state disability plan contains a focus on employment opportunities for people with disability.
• Proportion of Queenslanders with disability participating in employment increases both within the public and private sectors across Queensland.

• Disability Peak Bodies program incorporates a focus on employment of people with disability.
• Disability Peak Bodies program implemented by 1 July 2022.

• Funding agreements in place with service providers and outcomes measured through regular service reporting.

January 2022 - December 2022

• Increase the percentage of new employees to the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy’s workforce, identified as having a disability (specifically a focus on neurodiverse people).
• Percentage of people sharing information about their diversity through the Working for Queensland survey, School Opinion Survey and Workforce Diversity Census.

• Increase the percentage of new employees to the Queensland Department of Education’s workforce, identified as having a disability (specifically a focus on neurodiverse people).
• Percentage of people sharing information about their diversity through the Working for Queensland survey, School Opinion Survey and Workforce Diversity Census.

Late 2021 - June 2024

• Number of young Queenslanders with disability participating in VET.
• Percentage of employment outcomes for young people with disability following participation in SQW.
• Maintained demand for SDS services.
• Proportion of VET graduates with disability in employment or further study.
• Proportion of VET graduates with disability satisfied with their training.

• Eligible school leavers are supported to access the NDIS through the Assessment and Referral Team.

• Senior Education and Training Planning procedure published.
• Career education support material published.

Late 2021 - June 2024

• Percentage of successful employment outcomes for people with disability from engagement in the revitalised BTW program.
• Percentage of people with disability participating in the revitalised BTW program.
• Number of people with disability who gain employment following period of unemployment in regional areas.

• Percentage of frontline workforce participating in information sessions and disability-related professional development.

• Number of campaigns undertaken.
• Percentage of frontline workforce participating in educational and awareness campaigns and presentations.

• Training is reviewed and updated.
• Training is promoted across Custodial and Community Corrections staff.

January 2022 - December 2023

• Disability Awareness Training program is reviewed.
• Percentage of Queensland Government employees that complete the training program.
• Percentage of employees that report improved understanding of disability awareness through post-training survey.

• Advertisement and recruitment processes for Queensland Government boards are promoted, inclusive and accessible.

• 8% representation at the Senior Officer and Senior Executive Service (and equivalent) levels, by 30 June 2024.

4.1 Improving communication
Develop a whole-of-government inclusive language guide/toolkit in consultation with people with disability. The toolkit is to include contemporary inclusive language use with a particular focus on approaching and structuring proactive conversations around identity and consultation processes which value individual identity.

•  Guide/toolkit developed and disseminated.

Late 2021 - 2023

• Number of initiatives undertaken to increase understanding.
• Number of people reached through social media campaign.
• Reduction in reports of resistance by public transport users in giving up priority and allocated spaces when needed.

4.3 Undertake initiatives through the TenantConnect program for public housing tenants to increase visibility and understanding of people with disability, including digital channels such as web content and social media:

• Tenant stories shared via web content and social media during Disability Action Week (September) annually.
• Raise awareness and promote community services and initiatives that support and encourage people with disability living in public housing to connect with their community.

• Web and social media analytics to evaluate the effectiveness and reach of content.

4.4 The Queensland Accessible Transport Advisory Council (QATAC) provides disability-sector representatives with an unprecedented opportunity for early and authentic consultation on all major transport projects.

• Increase in the number of transport infrastructure project plans that formally consider the needs of people with disability.

• Disability advocacy service recipients experience improved interactions with mainstream service systems measured through regular reporting by funded advocacy organisations.
• Insights and evidence on systemic advocacy issues are identified and escalated through the Queensland Disability Advocacy Hub.

• Improved awareness by First Nations providers of service development and delivery opportunities across Queensland.
• Increase in First Nations Disability Worker Screening clearances.

1.1 Support inclusive practice in Queensland kindergartens by updating and promoting the Early Years Connect training and resources for the early detection of disability or developmental concerns in young children, evidence-based practice strategies and wellbeing outcomes.

• Training and resources promoted broadly and targeted to Early Childhood Education and Care services.

• Best practice guide developed and evaluated.

• Early Years Services report on improved and/or increased partnerships with ECDP, Schools and NDIS to support successful transitions.

• Percentage of children/families with disability supported through the program.

1.5 Enhancing specialist individual advocacy services – Children and younger people
Fund the Queensland Disability Advocacy Program Specialist Individual Advocacy service to ensure children and younger people with disability receive advocacy supports that uphold their rights and interests and to increase the control they have over their lives, through representation and building the person’s capacity for self-advocacy.

• Children and younger people with disability receiving advocacy services, their carers and/or guardians, experience improved interactions with mainstream service systems which is measured through regular service reporting.

January 2022 - December 2024

• Publication of dedicated online inclusion webpage.

2.2 Promoting, supporting and recognising the role of carers

Promote the role of carers and ensure their views are heard and inform policy and program development though:

• Funding Carers Queensland as a peak disability body to 30 June 2022.
• Administering a Ministerial Advisory Council to provide a voice for carers.
• Promoting and upholding the principles in the Carers Recognition Act 2008 ‘Carers Charter’.

2022 - 2024

• Carers Queensland funded as a disability peak body to 30 June 2022 to promote the role of carers as measured through regular service reporting.
• Regular meetings of the Queensland Carers Advisory Council, established under the Carers (Recognition) Act 2008 (Qld), provides advice on work to promote the interests of carers and make recommendations to support carer recognition.

January 2022 - December 2024

• Best practice guide developed and evaluated.
• Number of children with disability who participated in activities at an Early Years place.
• Number of parents/carers with disability who participated in activities at an Early Years place.

• Funded peak entities deliver agreed outcomes, measured through regular service reporting.

• Number of signature and supporting initiatives reported as ‘completed’ across the four focus areas.
• Increased awareness in the community about the impacts of domestic and family violence against people with disability and their human rights.
• Evidence that people with disability are aware of risk factors and types of DFV.
• Reported level of awareness by people with disability, their carers, and families in terms of supports available to them.

• Appropriate referrals are made and action taken whenever risk of harm is identified.

• Agreements with funded services require appropriate policies and procedures and providers’ compliance is monitored through regular reporting.

• Worker screening systems exclude unsuitable people from working or volunteering with people with disability.

• Implementation of relevant new and continuing actions under the TAP, including:
  -  Identifying training that could be offered to frontline, program and policy staff across Government to improve understanding of sexual violence.
  - Promoting sexual violence prevention resources and training for carers and disability support providers, particularly those providing care in congregate settings.

• Workplaces are better equipped to prevent and respond to people with disability impacted by sexual violence:
  -  Evidence of workforce training (e.g., training sessions or materials) on risk factors and targeted, trauma-informed responses.

• A refreshed framework considers the need for proportionate and appropriate regulation.

• Identifiable reduction in the level of duplicate regulation.

• Supports to people with disability impacted by domestic and family violence are improved, in particular to women with disability.
• Reported level of agreement that there are improvements in supports to people with disability impacted by DFV, in particular women.
• Victims and their families are safe and supported.
• Evidence of workforce training
  (e.g., training sessions or materials), including:
  -  For the disability workforce to respond to people impacted by DFV.
  -  For the DFV workforce to respond to people with disability.

• Number of people with disability in crisis accommodation.
• Number of people with disability transitioned from crisis accommodation to longer term housing.
• Number of people with disability assisted with on-site support.
• Number of people with disability assisted with mobile support.

• Safety initiatives options explored and where deemed feasible implemented.

• Strategy endorsed and published.

• Research outcomes provide evidence for future advocacy and action to address plan under- utilisation and improve access to disability supports in regional Queensland.

• Establishment of additional Domestic, Family Violence and Vulnerable Persons Units in Queensland.
• Training and awareness products delivered to frontline police which include perspectives of persons with disability.
• Number of referrals made using the Police Referral System to connect people with a disability to external support providers to address the underlying causes of their offending or engagement with QPS.

4.1 Review current legislation and policy in relation to the use and minimisation of restrictive practices in Queensland hospital and health facilities, and ensure Queensland Health has systems to:

• Minimise and, where possible, eliminate the use of restrictive practices.
• Govern the use of restrictive practices in accordance with legislation.
• Report use of restrictive practices to the governing body.

• Training programmes and resources developed and promoted on alternative strategies to using restrictive practices.
• Policy and best practice guidelines developed to minimise the use of restrictive practices in healthcare settings.

• Reviewed is completed and recommendations considered by Government.

5.1   Enhancing specialist individual advocacy services – First Nations people with disability and People with disability from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds.

Jan 2022 - June 2023

1.1 Lead Queensland’s response to key priority actions addressing relevant recommendations out of the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements (including findings in relation to people with disability).

• Disaster management services have disability- inclusive disaster management plans in place.
• Increase accessibility of emergency preparedness and disaster prevention, response and recovery information and services for people with disability.

• Percentage of new human and social recovery plans that are inclusive of people with disability.

• The Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships refers appropriate matters to the After Hours Crisis Referral service as required.

• Disaster management services have disability- inclusive disaster management plans in place.
• Increase in accessibility of emergency preparedness and disaster prevention, response and recovery information and services for people with disability.

• People with disability and/or their representatives are included as a key stakeholder group in the development and implementation of the Social Isolation and Loneliness Whole of Government strategy.

• Percentage of Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy Human and Social Recovery Groups that include representatives and/or have mechanisms to engage representatives of people with disability in human and social recovery planning processes.