Our role in Disability Inclusion Planning

The Disability Council sees Disability Inclusion Planning as an important tool to promote an inclusive NSW and effect cultural change in the way mainstream services are provided to people with disability.

The Disability Council has an expanded role under section 17 of the Disability Inclusion Act 2014 to:

• advise public authorities about the content and implementation of disability inclusion action plans; and
• advise the Minister about the content and implementation of the State Disability Inclusion Plan and disability inclusion action plans.

Under section 12 of the Disability Inclusion Act public authorities must consult with people with disability when developing their DIAP, however, it is only suggested and not mandatory for public authorities to consult with the Disability Council.

Under section 13 of the Disability Inclusion Act, the responsibility for evaluation, monitoring and reporting on the implementation of a DIAP falls on the public authority responsible for the plan.

The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is responsible for providing a framework for governance, evaluation and reporting on DIAPs, and for monitoring, evaluating and reporting on actions under the DIP.

For more information on what the NSW Government is doing to make sure actions under the DIP and DIAPs are being implemented, evaluated and reported on, visit the NSW Disability Inclusion Plan page.

As part of its role under the Disability Inclusion Act 2014, the Disability Council provide advice on the monitoring and evaluation of the DIP, and support public authorities and other organisations to develop, govern, implement, monitor and evaluate their DIAPs.

The Disability Council:

• provides generic advice on disability inclusion planning
• attends consultations on DIAPs where possible
• provides links to information and resources that will assist public authorities to develop their DIAP
• provides a checklist for public authorities to self assess their DIAP for compatibility with the Disability Inclusion Act and best practice
• receives DIAPs from all public authorities (as it is required to do under section 12 of the Disability Inclusion Act) and keep a register of all DIAPs on its website
• provides a tool for feedback on each public authority’s DIAP on the Register of DIAPs page 
• advise the Minister about the content and implementation of DIAPs.

The Disability Council does not:

• individually review the DIAP of every public authority in detail and provide individual advice and feedback on the DIAP
• consult with individuals in every public authority and monitor the implementation of the DIAP within each public authority
• evaluate each public authority’s individual DIAP for compatibility with the requirements for DIAPs outlined in section 12 of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan
• report to the minister on the progress and implementation of each individual authority’s DIAP.

The Disability Council is not required under the Disability Inclusion Act to consult, evaluate, monitor or report on the implementation of each individual public authority’s DIAP. However, as part of the Disability Council’s functions of advising public authorities and the Minister on the content and implementation of the DIAPs, the Disability Council may also prepare an annual report for the minister that includes recommendations on:

• common issues identified in DIAPs and their implementation and possible solutions for these issues
• issues identified by peak bodies and representative disability bodies as requiring attention in future DIAPs
• how the process of developing , monitoring and reporting on DIAPs may be improved
• how the NSW Disability Inclusion Plan is being implemented
• any actions in DIAPs that conflict with actions in the NSW Disability Inclusion Plan.