The National Disability Strategy is a ten year plan (2010-2020) for enabling people with a disability to fulfil their potential as equal citizens. The Strategy is designed around six policy areas:

• Inclusive and accessible communities – the physical environment (including public transport, parks, buildings and housing), digital information and communications technologies, and social, sporting, recreational and cultural life.
• Rights protection, justice and legislation – statutory protections such as anti-discrimination measures, complaints mechanisms, advocacy, and the electoral and justice systems.
• Economic security – jobs, business opportunities, financial independence, adequate income support for those not able to work, and housing.
• Personal and community support – inclusion and participation in the community, person-centred care and support provided by specialist disability services and mainstream services, and informal care and support.
• Learning and skills – early childhood education and care, schools, further education, transitions from education to employment, and life-long learning.
• Health and wellbeing – health services, health promotion, the interaction between health and disability systems, and wellbeing and enjoyment of life.

The Strategy recognises that full participation and social inclusion for people with a disability cannot be addressed by the specialist disability system alone – the engagement of mainstream areas such as education, health, transport and housing is essential. The intent of the Strategy is therefore in line with the requirement under the Disability Services Act 1993 (NSW) for all NSW Government departments to undertake disability action planning.

The COAG Standing Council on Community, Housing and Disability Services will report to COAG regarding progress in implementing the Strategy after the first 12 months, and then every two years. The Standing Council will also report to COAG on national progress for people with a disability against the NDS outcomes, to be measured using trend indicators. Draft trend indicators for reporting are included in the Strategy, to be refined throughout the implementation process.

The first major national task will be the development of a National Implementation Plan. An evaluation plan will also be developed in the first year of the Strategy.

To assist our contribution to this process and drive implementation of the Strategy in NSW, a NSW Implementation Plan will also be developed, to be linked to the existing disability action planning process.

The successful implementation of this Strategy, including the development of the NSW Implementation Plan, will require the involvement and engagement of all NSW Government agencies. An inter-departmental Steering Committee will shortly be established, chaired by the Department of Family and Community Services (Ageing, Disability and Home Care), to develop the NSW Implementation Plan.

I therefore encourage all Ministers and agencies to familiarise themselves with the Strategy and the NSW Implementation Plan, links for which are located on the Family and Community Services website.

(http://www.adhc.nsw.gov.au/about_us/strategies/national_disability_strategy)

Barry O’Farrell MP
Premier