Queensland's Disability Plan 2022-27: Promoting Inclusion

Advancing Disability Inclusion Across Queensland

Queensland is home to over 900,000 people living with disability, each with unique experiences, abilities, and aspirations. As a community, we are committed to ensuring that every Queenslander has the opportunity to reach their full potential and live their best life. This is the driving force behind Queensland’s Disability Plan 2022-27: Together, a better Queensland.

This comprehensive plan, developed in collaboration with people with disability, outlines the Queensland Government’s vision and priorities for creating a more inclusive state over the next five years. By aligning with the national Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31, this plan ensures a coordinated approach to advancing the rights and wellbeing of people with disability across the country.

At the heart of this plan is a fundamental belief: disability is part of the human experience, and people with disability should be empowered to participate fully in all aspects of community life. Whether it’s access to education, employment, housing, healthcare, or social activities, this plan aims to break down barriers and foster a society that celebrates diversity and inclusion.

Laying the Groundwork for Inclusion

Queensland’s Disability Plan builds upon the successes and learnings of the previous state plan, All Abilities Queensland: Opportunities for All (2017-2022). Through this earlier initiative, the Queensland Government worked closely with the disability sector, local communities, and people with lived experience to drive progress across five key priority areas:

Increasing opportunities in employment
Improving daily living through better access and inclusion
Strengthening community involvement and leadership
Ensuring safety, wellbeing, and justice
Building a disability-confident community

The implementation of All Abilities Queensland was a collaborative effort, involving all levels of government, businesses, and community organizations. This collective approach laid the foundation for the next phase of disability inclusion in Queensland.

As the state transitioned to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the All Abilities Queensland plan was designed to align with this significant change. The learnings and outcomes from this earlier plan have directly informed the development of the current Queensland’s Disability Plan, ensuring continuity and building upon past successes.

Aligning with Australia’s Disability Strategy

Queensland’s Disability Plan 2022-27 is closely aligned with the national Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-31, which provides a strategic framework for advancing the rights and inclusion of people with disability across the country. This alignment ensures a coordinated and consistent approach to disability inclusion, leveraging the collective efforts of all states and territories.

The seven key outcome areas identified in Australia’s Disability Strategy form the foundation of Queensland’s Disability Plan:

Employment and Financial Security: Ensuring people with disability have equal opportunities to participate in the workforce and achieve economic security.
Inclusive Homes and Communities: Creating built environments and communities that are accessible and welcoming for people with disability.
Safety, Rights and Justice: Protecting the safety and rights of people with disability, and providing access to the justice system.
Personal and Community Support: Ensuring people with disability have the necessary supports to live independently and participate in their communities.
Education and Learning: Enabling people with disability to access quality education and lifelong learning opportunities.
Health and Wellbeing: Improving the physical and mental health outcomes for people with disability.
Community Attitudes: Fostering positive community attitudes and understanding towards people with disability.

By aligning with these national priorities, Queensland’s Disability Plan ensures a coherent and collaborative approach to driving progress across the state. However, the plan also recognizes the unique needs and diversity of the Queensland community, tailoring its implementation to address the specific challenges and opportunities within the state.

Putting People with Disability at the Center

A key aspect of Queensland’s Disability Plan is its focus on co-design and placing the lived experiences of people with disability at the heart of the process. The development of this plan was guided by a working party of Queenslanders with Disability Network, who provided invaluable insights and recommendations based on their personal experiences.

The working party emphasized the importance of genuine engagement, where people with disability are not just consulted, but actively involved in the design, implementation, and evaluation of policies, programs, and services that impact their lives. This approach ensures that the unique needs and perspectives of the diverse disability community are fully represented.

As the working party noted, “People with disability should always be at the table where decisions are made about their lives.” This principle of co-design is fundamental to the success of Queensland’s Disability Plan, as it empowers people with disability to be active participants in shaping a more inclusive future.

Driving Change Across Four Key Impact Areas

To ensure the greatest impact and reach, Queensland’s Disability Plan focuses its efforts across four key impact areas:

Our Service Users: This recognizes the diverse needs and experiences of people with disability who access government services and programs, and the importance of designing these offerings in an inclusive and accessible manner.
Our People: This acknowledges the value of employing and supporting people with disability within the Queensland Government workforce, fostering a culture of inclusion and diversity.
Our Community: This emphasizes the vital role of all members of the community, including businesses, organizations, and individuals, in promoting inclusion and breaking down societal barriers.
Our Places: This recognizes the importance of creating built environments, infrastructure, and public spaces that are accessible and welcoming for people with disability.

By focusing on these four impact areas, Queensland’s Disability Plan ensures a comprehensive and targeted approach to advancing inclusion across all aspects of life in the state.

The Power of Collaboration and Accountability

Achieving true inclusion is not the sole responsibility of the government – it requires the collective efforts of all levels of government, industry, and the broader community. Queensland’s Disability Plan recognizes this and calls upon all stakeholders to play their part.

The plan outlines the specific roles and contributions of various entities, including:

Queensland Government Departments: Developing and delivering disability service plans that align with the priorities of Queensland’s Disability Plan and Australia’s Disability Strategy.
Local Governments: Encouraged to develop their own disability action plans and work in partnership with state and federal governments to deliver inclusive programs and services.
Non-Government Organizations: Opportunity to grow their services and client base, while also fostering inclusive workplaces and reporting on their achievements.

To ensure accountability and drive progress, the plan establishes several key governance mechanisms, including:

The Disability Reform and Implementation Interdepartmental Committee (DRIIC), responsible for overseeing the implementation of Queensland’s commitments under Australia’s Disability Strategy.
The Queensland Disability Advisory Council (QDAC), which will provide advice and feedback to guide the delivery of actions under the plan.
Annual reporting and progress updates, which will be published on the Queensland Disability Plan website to promote transparency and track the state’s advancement towards greater inclusion.

By embracing a collaborative and accountable approach, Queensland’s Disability Plan aims to harness the collective power of all stakeholders to create meaningful and lasting change.

Investing in the Future of Inclusion

The Queensland Government recognizes the importance of appropriate resourcing and funding to deliver positive outcomes for Queenslanders with disability. While the Commonwealth Government plays a leading role in the implementation of Australia’s Disability Strategy, the Queensland Government remains committed to aligning its efforts and investments to maximize the impact.

The state continues to invest in a range of specialist disability programs and safeguards, including the Queensland Community Support Scheme, the Medical Aids Subsidy Scheme, and various advocacy and support services. These initiatives complement the roll-out of the NDIS, ensuring that all Queenslanders with disability have access to the necessary supports and services.

Importantly, the plan also acknowledges the critical role of peak and advocacy bodies in providing advice, guidance, and representation to individuals, as well as identifying systemic issues to inform future program design. The Queensland Government has committed to reviewing the design of its funded disability peak and advocacy services to ensure they remain contemporary and aligned with the evolving needs of the disability community.

As the NDIS continues to grow in Queensland, with an expected 180,000 participants over the next decade, the state is well-positioned to work closely with the Commonwealth to support the expansion of the NDIS provider market and ensure that people with disability have access to high-quality, inclusive services.

Embracing a Disability-Inclusive Future

Queensland’s Disability Plan 2022-27: Together, a better Queensland represents a significant milestone in the state’s commitment to disability inclusion. By aligning with the national Australia’s Disability Strategy and placing the lived experiences of people with disability at the center of its development, this plan sets the foundation for a more equitable and inclusive future.

Through the collective efforts of government, industry, and the broader community, this plan aims to break down barriers, foster positive attitudes, and empower people with disability to fully participate in all aspects of Queensland life. Whether it’s accessing education, securing employment, or engaging with the community, this plan envisions a future where every Queenslander can reach their full potential and live their best life.

As the Stanley Park High School community, we are proud to be part of this journey towards a more inclusive Queensland. We encourage all members of our school community to learn more about the plan, explore the resources available, and consider how they can contribute to creating a society that truly values and celebrates the diversity of all its members.

Together, we can build a better Queensland – one that embraces inclusion, celebrates diversity, and empowers all Queenslanders to thrive.