Improving access and equity
All policies and projects undertaken by the Department are formulated on the basis that no person should be disadvantaged by disability, age, location or income. Under the Business Excellence Framework category of customer and market focus, we set out to improve in a number of areas during the year.
Disability Service Plan
In December 2003 we updated our Disability Service Plan to make a positive difference to the lives of people with disabilities, their families and carers as outlined in the Better Planning: Better Services framework. The new strategy focuses on five outcomes:
- Existing services are adapted to meet the needs of people with disabilities;
- Access to buildings and facilities used to provide the Departmentˇ¦s services is improved;
- Information about the Department's services and facilities is provided in formats that meet the communication needs of people with disabilities;
- Advice and services are delivered by departmental staff who are aware of and understand the needs of people with disabilities; and
- Opportunities are provided for people to participate in public consultations, consumer feedback and decision-making processes.
Initiatives undertaken during the year to assist people with disabilities included:
- Incorporating facilities for people with disabilities in the Geraldton, Bunbury, Broome, Kalgoorlie, Joondalup and City West Licensing Centre refurbishments. The refurbishments include accessible/adjustable counters providing easier access to services for customers in wheelchairs. The Morley Licensing Centre is being fitted out in accordance with new design principles and includes disabled car parking at its entrance, disabled shower/toilet staff facilities, ground floor access (no stairs or steps), automatic opening doors and access to public transport;
- Promoting the availability of published material in alternative forms such as Braille, large print or audio cassette;
- Introducing a basic training module for staff who want to increase their awareness and understanding of the issues affecting people with disabilities and seniors; and
- Developing a more advanced training module for people, including contractors, who already have a working knowledge of universal design principles.
A full access audit will be undertaken in conjunction with the reconstruction of the Welshpool vehicle inspection centre. All new centres we operate will also be subject to access audits.
Universal design
During the year we adopted universal design principles to 'mainstream' access and mobility concepts. For instance, an increasingly ageing population requires changes to the way land, transport and infrastructure systems are managed. A whole-of-life approach to active ageing takes into consideration the provision of optimal opportunities for health, participation and security to enhance quality of life as people get older.
Universal design principles offer an opportunity to incorporate innovative solutions to address the needs of all people with disabilities throughout the whole-of-life course.
Disability awareness and universal design training
Training workshops that offered experiential learning for all staff were conducted during the year. The workshops aimed to increase understanding of all issues affecting seniors and people with disabilities.
In particular, staff were invited to explore the impact of an ageing population and the infrastructure and service delivery needed to support the baby boomer generation, considered the biggest cohort of seniors in the state's history.
Active ageing
During the year we liaised with personnel across Government to coordinate and record strategic initiatives related to the needs of an ageing population.
In responding to the Government's Active Ageing Strategy, we played a key role in identifying mainstream programs which may be enhanced to provide a greater quality of life for seniors through a more strategic approach to our planning and service delivery. An example is a planned review of the zoning of R Codes in relation to the size of blocks and a mix of housing types, including affordable housing, within a transit oriented development.
Cultural diversity and language services
We make arrangements to accommodate people who speak a language other than English. For instance, during Dialogue with the city, special workshops were held for people from non-English speaking backgrounds to ensure their views were listened to and presented during the forum.
All publications are available in other formats, including other languages.
Flexible working hours are offered to staff to cater for issues such as family commitments or religious ceremonies, and a peer support group operates throughout the Department so any employees who are having difficulty or feeling isolated have someone to turn to.
Youth outcomes
We take seriously the need to encourage and nurture young people in our organisation. The Department has a Learning and Development Program specifically targeted at young people. The program targets graduates, offering graduate placement and traineeships and undertaking special training for them.
We also engage young indigenous people and offer them work experience and traineeships within the organisation as part of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Strategy. Five trainees were employed in both metropolitan and regional areas over the past 12 months. As well as providing employment opportunities for young indigenous people, this contributes to increased awareness and acceptance of diversity in the workplace.
During the year we employed 20 university graduates as part of our Graduate Program. Potential young leaders were also identified and included in our Leadership Development Program.
A number of programs run by the Department specifically target youth. For instance, the Cycle to School Day, which is part of the annual Bikeweek, specifically targets young people and encourages them to cycle to school.
Read More...
Read more about Bike Week under Getting people out of cars
We actively encouraged young people's participation in Dialogue with the city, and incorporated special 'listening sessions' for them to ensure that their views were clearly heard and understood.
Volunteers
Our Volunteer Marine Safety Liaison Officer Program recruits and trains volunteer liaison officers in regional areas to enhance marine safety.
The volunteers donate their time, boating expertise and local knowledge, predominantly on weekends and public holidays, to:
- Distribute boating safety pamphlets and general boating safety information at boat ramps and to vessels anchored along beaches;
- Advise boat owners of gazetted waters;
- Conduct safety gear checks and provide advice on safety gear, storage, accessibility, condition etc;
- Provide advice based on local knowledge of weather/wind shifts and where to obtain the latest weather information;
- Provide suggestions on the use of marine radios and explain the value of communicating with local sea rescue groups; and
- Attend boat shows and other special events.
We currently have 35 volunteer officers at different locations around the state.
The Walking School Bus depends on volunteers for its success, and during the year 60 volunteers gave their time to escort children to school safely.
More than 250 volunteers helped with the organisation and hosting of Dialogue with the city as facilitators, 'scribes', 'theme team' members and support 'crew'. More than 80 per cent of these volunteers were public servants and all gave their time to spend a full day in training and a full day (Saturday) at the forum.
More than 50 Department staff volunteered their time to help with the clean up of the Fremantle Fishing Boat Harbour during Clean Up Australia Day in March.
Read More...
Read more about Business Excellence Framework underCorporate Management and Governance
Read more about Dialogue with the city on the following pages:
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