Resources. All you need to know.

1       Introduction

The Tasmanian Government's Disability Framework for Action 2005-2010 is a whole-of-government approach to policy, planning, service delivery and evaluation that seeks to remove barriers and enable people with disabilities to enjoy the same rights and opportunities as other Tasmanians.  The framework includes a comprehensive range of actions that the government will pursue to promote the rights of Tasmanians with disabilities. 

Each Tasmanian Government agency is required, as part of its strategic and business planning, to prepare a disability action plan that documents the way in which the commitments specified in the Disability Framework for Action 2005-2010 will be met. Economic Development and Tourism’s Action Plan identifies specific and measurable priorities, including targets and benchmarks where appropriate, to give effect to the initiatives outlined in the plan.

The Disability Framework for Action complements Tasmania Together, the community’s social, environmental and economic plan.  Tasmania Together incorporates a vision of participation and equity for all Tasmanians.  The following Tasmania Together goals are supported by the objectives of Economic Development and Tourism’s Disability Action Plan:

Goal 1:  A reasonable lifestyle and standard of living for all Tasmanians.

Goal 2:  Confident, friendly and safe Tasmanian communities.

Goal 5:  Vibrant, inclusive and growing communities where people feel valued and connected.

Goal 8:  Open and accountable government, that listens and plans for a shared future for all Tasmanians.

Goal 9:  Increased work opportunities for all Tasmanians.

2       Economic Development and Tourism Policy Statement

The Tasmanian Government recognises that people with disabilities not only have the right to access specialist services when needed, but also have the right to expect equitable access to mainstream government programs, services and facilities.  The Tasmanian Government’s vision for people with a disability is a Tasmanian society that highly values, and continually enhances, the full participation of people living with a disability.

Economic Development and Tourism is committed to promoting the human rights of all people and to eliminating barriers that restrict individuals’ access to personal, social and economic opportunities.  The department contributes to this by recognising and advancing the needs of people with disabilities within the Tasmanian State Service and the Tasmanian community in general.  

Under the Tasmanian Disability Services Act 1992 “disability” means a disability which:

• is attributable to an intellectual, psychiatric, sensory or physical impairment or a combination of these impairments
• is permanent or likely to be permanent
• may or may not be of a chronic episodic nature.

Economic Development and Tourism is strongly committed to removing barriers that restrict access by people with disabilities to services, employment and information provided to Tasmanians by the government.  Considering the needs of people with disabilities in the design and delivery of all government policies, programs, services and facilities will promote the full realisation of personal, social and economic opportunities and contribute to making Tasmania a more inclusive place to live.

3       Department overview - services and functions

Economic Development and Tourism, incorporating the Tasmanian Development Board and the Tourism Tasmania Board, leads economic and industry development in Tasmania.  It is responsible to the Minister for Economic Development, the Minister for Tourism and the Minister for Sport and Recreation.

It is the first point of contact for companies wishing to establish, relocate, diversify or expand in Tasmania. It also acts as a conduit to other state and Australian Government departments, local government and Tasmanian business and jointly delivers marketing and development programs that drive benefits for Tasmania from national and international tourism.

It aims to achieve community, industry and government development goals by creating a competitive business environment, promoting and attracting investment and by helping individuals, businesses and industries to grow and become internationally competitive.

It does this by working with business across a broad range of industry sectors, particularly those that are focused on exports and import replacement. The department manages projects, advises and implements government policy, undertakes planning and delivers programs and services in partnership with industry sectors.

It uses the goals and benchmarks of Tasmania Together, industry council plans and partnership agreements with local government, as the basis for developing its strategic focus.

The department undertakes its work and delivers its services through six divisions Industry Development, Enterprise Development, Sport and Recreation Tasmania, Tourism Tasmania, Corporate Services, and Governance and Strategy.

4       Economic Development and Tourism Disability Working Group

A Disability Working Group was established comprising representatives from across the department.  The group has provided input into the development of the department’s disability action pan and was established to ensure all divisions’ activities are represented, and that strategies to address needs of people with disabilities are considered and implemented at the divisional level.  Representatives from the Disability Bureau have also participated in the working group to provide guidance to the department in developing the disability action plan.

5       Consultation

Economic Development and Tourism recognises the expertise and knowledge of people with disabilities and their support networks, and the need to draw on these resources to develop effective policies, programs and services. 

During the development of the disability action plan the department consulted with various external bodies including WISE Employment, Disability Services and Advocacy Tasmania.  These discussions have helped Economic Development and Tourism to identify the key issues that need to be considered and addressed in the disability action plan.

All employees of the department were also invited to contribute to the disability action plan, by sharing ideas, experience or suggestions on how the department could improve its accessibility for people with disabilities.

6       Employment environment

6.1  The department

Economic Development and Tourism operates from eight locations: five in Hobart (ANZ Centre, Reserve Bank Building, Technopark, Salamanca Square and Wirksworth House) two in Launceston (Cornwall Square and Silverdome) and one in Burnie (Harris Building).

These locations primarily provide office accommodation for employees except for the Silverdome in Launceston, which houses the Tasmanian Institute of Sport and is also used as a public venue for sporting and community events.

The Industry Development, Enterprise Development, Sport and Recreation Tasmania and Tourism Tasmania divisions, all interact with the public in the provision of services and delivery of programs.  The Corporate Support and Governance and Strategy divisions primarily provide services that are internal to government.

6.2  Working in Economic Development and Tourism

State Service employees and people applying for State Service vacancies, are not required to report or specify whether they have a disability. Consequently, it is incumbent on the managers/supervisors to engage with staff in their areas to identify and address any issues that may affect the provision of an effective workplace.  All employees are supported in this process by the Human Resources division.  The department is committed to providing appropriate facilities and equipment on an as needs basis to any staff with specific requirements.

7       Achievements to date

7.1  Access to and working within the Economic Development and Tourism environment

As recent works have been undertaken on the properties occupied by the department, compliance with the Building Code of Australia (BCA) and Australian Standards (AS) has been ensured, and a number of additional features have been added to properties specifically to address identified disability-access requirements.

These include:

• Wirksworth House
  • installation of accessible toilet and shower
  • creation of two accessible car parks within close proximity to the entrance
• Technopark
  • installation of an additional accessible toilet
  • creation of two additional accessible car parks, widening and relocation of two existing car parks
  • installation of ramps and handrails
• Silverdome
  • instillation of luminous edges put on all internal steps
    
  • enclosure of the wheelchair section of the grandstand with glass panels.

In line with the intent of the Disability Framework for Action 2005-10 and to meet legislative requirements, all future modifications to the department’s owned (and where possible leased) buildings will be assessed by a building surveyor to ensure likely compliance with all legislative requirements.   The department will continue to require consultants to include compliance with BCA and AS, as part of their design brief.  

In May 2008 the department commissioned ParaQuad to undertake a full audit of all the buildings it occupies, to review compliance against the standards (this will be completed by October 2008) and from these recommendations a priority work plan will be developed and implemented.

Through these measures and the previously mentioned building upgrades, the department is taking all reasonable steps to ensure its buildings and facilities are accessible for people with disabilities. 

7.2  Access to information

Tourism Tasmania provides details on Tasmanian tourism industry operators with accessible facilities in their business, to support people with disabilities.  This information is communicated via www.discovertasmania.com.  The site has search access to Tourism Tasmania’s product content database (TigerTour), which holds all tourism property, services and activities found in Tasmania. 

Each entry has information advising customers of facilities in the business including those relevant to people with disabilities.  Tourism Tasmania has committed to making further improvements to the site by introducing a search facility specifically for disabled access and ensuring consistency of information across all operators offering these facilities.

The wholesale division, Tasmania’s Temptations Holidays, also displays an assisted access symbol against tourist operators who have accessible facilities on www.tastemptations.com.au

7.3  Employee training and awareness

Economic Development and Tourism’s Diversity Plan (2005-2008) commits to creating a quality workplace that recognises, values and integrates the unique qualities and attributes of all its employees. Since the release of the plan the following outcomes have been achieved, which directly support raising awareness for all employees and specifically those with management responsibilities:

• whole-of-department diversity awareness training was undertaken in 2006
• a Diversity Contact Officer (DCO) Network was established in 2005 to provide information and advice, and raise awareness among employees
• information was made available to all employees via the department’s Intranet.
  
  

7.4  Business and Community programs

The Partnerships to Jobs Program (established in 2003-04) provided one-off grants, primarily to non-profit community organisations, for projects that created and or facilitated employment for disadvantaged Tasmanian jobseekers, including people with disabilities.

More than $4.3 million was allocated through this program and 26 projects with the potential to deliver 837 new employment opportunities for disadvantaged job seekers were funded.  To date 533 Tasmanian jobseekers have gained employment through this program.

Of the projects funded, the redevelopment of Vincent Industries ‘Vintex’ Processing Facility in Wynyard and the expansion of the St Michaels Association’s ‘Plantskills’ enterprise in Launceston specifically provided employment for people with disabilities.

From 1 July 2008 the Workforce Participation Program, a new $2.5 million employment initiative, is replacing the Partnerships to Jobs Program.  Under this  program eligible businesses can receive grant funding to employ people who have not been employed in the previous three months and who face a barrier to participation.

Following a comprehensive review of Sport and Recreation Tasmania’s grants programs, there have been changes to the eligibility criteria organisations must meet.  To be considered for funding within the revised State Grants Programs, sport or recreation organisations must have an inclusion policy in place, or demonstrate a commitment to developing and adopting a policy in 2009.

A new grants program was introduced in 2007-08 to provide assistance to organisations to overcome barriers to participation in sport and recreation.  The Community Recreation Grants Program provides $1 million each year and is open on a continuous basis, with applications being assessed at regular intervals.

The department also funds the Tasmanian Sport and Recreation Association for People with a Disability (TASRAD).

8       Economic Development and Tourism Disability Action Plan

The Disability Action Plan covers the following key areas:

8.1  Access to and working within the Economic Development and Tourism environment

8.2  Access to information

8.3  Recruitment and employment of people with disabilities

8.4  Employee training and awareness (specifically for employees with a people management responsibility) and in every other instance

8.5  Business and community programs.

Agreed actions within the disability action plan become part of the relevant Business Unit’s Plan with each division contributing to the departments overall effort to remove barriers to participation for Tasmanians with disabilities.

At this stage costs have not been identified.  Many of the actions will rely on internal resource allocation (people and time) to be achieved and no additional costs will be incurred.  When for example the Access to Premises Audit is completed, detailed costings will be developed and budget identified to implement recommendations through a work plan and the disability action plan will be updated to reflect these changes as required.

It is the intent of the department to ensure consideration is given to the needs of people with disabilities, in the design of policies, community-based programs, services and the provision of accessible facilities.

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