Introduction 4. communication activities to promote the intent of the strategy throughout the community. The development of the Australian Government Plan to Vision: The Australian Government’s Improve Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait vision is an environment that enables Islander People with Disability Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (the Plan), confirms the Australian Government’s people with disability to achieve commitment to improving outcomes for Aboriginal and improved life outcomes and overall Torres Strait Islander people with disability to access culturally appropriate and sustainable supports and social, emotional and cultural services. wellbeing. The Plan identifies potential solutions that The National Disability Strategy 2010–2020 (the communities, in partnership with the Australian Strategy) outlines a ten year national policy framework Government, can drive for better access to culturally for improving the lives of Australians with disability, responsive and sustainable support and service their families and carers. The Strategy’s first systems. In addition to broader and sustainable implementation plan, Laying the Groundwork reforms under the Strategy, the Plan is intended to 2014, set the foundation for influencing all areas of build on current efforts being undertaken in Indigenous policy development and service delivery. and disability policy reforms including actions aimed at closing the gap in Indigenous disadvantage and The Strategy’s second implementation plan, Driving through the NDIS. Action 2015–2018, seeks to build on the achievements of Laying the Groundwork 2011–2014. Driving Action Importantly, the Plan aligns with the United 2015–2018 provides a framework for new policy action Nations track approach’for achieving ‘twin and for progressing ongoing commitments to improve equal opportunities for people with disability: outcomes for people with disability. Importantly, it 1. Integrating disability sensitive measures into the identifies four additional areas of national cooperation: design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation 1. National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) of all policies and programs. transition to full scheme 2. Providing disability specific initiatives to support 2. improving employment outcomes for people with the empowerment of persons with disability. disability Engagement mechanisms—including an annual 3. improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres roundtable—will provide opportunities for Aboriginal Strait Islander people with disability and Torres Strait Islander people with disability, their families and carers to inform the monitoring, implementation and review of the Plan.
Introduction Vision: The Australian Government’s vision is an environment that enables Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability to achieve improved life outcomes and overall social, emotional and cultural wellbeing. The National Disability Strategy 2010–2020 (the Strategy) outlines a ten year national policy framework for improving the lives of Australians with disability, their families and carers. The Strategy’s first implementation plan, Laying the Groundwork set the foundation for influencing all areas of policy development and service delivery. The Strategy’s second implementation plan, Driving Action 2015–2018, seeks to build on the achievements of Laying the Groundwork 2011–2014. Driving Action 2015–2018 provides a framework for new policy action and for progressing ongoing commitments to improve outcomes for people with disability. Importantly, it identifies four additional areas of national cooperation: 1. National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) transition to full scheme 2. improving employment outcomes for people with disability 3. improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability 4. communication activities to promote the intent of the strategy throughout the community. The development of the Australian Government Plan to Improve Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People with Disability (the Plan), confirms the Australian Government’s commitment to improving outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability to access culturally appropriate and sustainable supports and services. The Plan identifies potential solutions that communities, in partnership with the Australian Government, can drive for better access to culturally responsive and sustainable support and service systems. In addition to broader and sustainable reforms under the Strategy, the Plan is intended to build on current efforts being undertaken in Indigenous and disability policy reforms including actions aimed at closing the gap in Indigenous disadvantage and through the NDIS. Importantly, the Plan aligns with the United Nations ‘twin track approach’for achieving equal opportunities for people with disability: 1. Integrating disability sensitive measures into the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of all policies and programs. 2. Providing disability specific initiatives to support the empowerment of persons with disability. Engagement mechanisms—including an annual roundtable—will provide opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability, their families and carers to inform the monitoring, implementation and review of the Plan. 2014,
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