Our Disability Action Plan in PDF
The ACT Human Rights Commission is an independent statutory agency established by the Human Rights Commission Act 2005. The Commission has a range of functions relevant to people with a disability, including:
The Commission includes the Public Advocate and Children and Young People Commissioner who is the champion of the Commission’s Disability Action Plan.
The Commission’s core values underscore and inform our approach to our Disability Action Plan.
The ACT Human Rights Commission has a vision of an ACT community where the rights of people with disability are recognised, respected and promoted, and substantive equality in employment, education, health, justice and access to services is fully realised, which includes the equal participation of people with disability in the workforce.
As an organisation created explicitly to serve the interests of people with disability, among others, the Human Rights Commission has a unique leadership role in the ACT community.
As such, we see Disability Action Plans (DAPs) as an important vehicle for demonstrating this leadership role and giving practical effect to our vision.
The Commission promotes accessibility and inclusion as part of its core work, as well as protecting and promoting the human rights of people with disability. We promote and protect the human rights of people with a disability both under the Human Rights Act 2004(ACT) and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). We seek to deliver services to people with disabilities in a manner consistent with these human rights. The Commission’s Disability Action Plan (DAP) outlines how we do this.
Monitor accessibility of HRC facilities and equipment.
Disability Adviser
Executive Manager
Commissioners
Ongoing
Audit by March 2019
Accessibility Register set up by May 2019
Engage external provided for physical accessibility audit
Accessibility register developed and maintained outlining any issues raised regarding accessibility of the office based on audit and other feedback.
Provide accessible documents on the website.
All of Commission
ICT Manager
Ongoing
HRC and Victim Support ACT website complies with WCAG 2.0 AA standard. All new documents on the website are accessible.
Monitor complaints process to ensure it is accessible to all people with a disability.
Disability & Community Services Commissioner and Disability adviser
Ongoing
Complaints process available and promoted on HRC website and in a range of accessible formats.
Online complaint form and evaluation form developed that are accessible.
Question added to the evaluation form on accessibility of complaints process and results reported in annual report.
Flexible complaints intake practices adopted to take into account people’s differing abilities. Procedures manual developed.
Staff to attend training on disability including effective communication with complainants with a disability and disability awareness.
Staff to attend training on disability including effective communication with complainants with a disability and disability awareness.
Finance and Administration Manager
Disability Adviser
Within 6 months for new staff, and then as needed.
All key staff have attended training. All intake staff attend training within 6 months of starting.
Two sessions per year for staff that references someone with lived experience of disability.
Ensure new database can collect data on enquirers, VSACT clients and complainants regarding disability.
Complaints Intake team
Early Intervention Team
ICT Manager
Disability & Community Services Commissioner
Ongoing
Complaints monitored annually.
Build into new database
Intake team and Early Intervention team continues to ask enquirers if they have a disability that may affect them making a complaint.
Results published in the annual report.
Training provided and events staged by the Commission are fully accessible.
All of Commission
Trainers/event organisers
Ongoing
Reminders sent 6 monthly and given at Staff meeting.
All Training registration asks whether attendees require adjustments or have particular requirements.
Event Accessibility Guide and Checklist promoted internally for all HRC employees.
Events are fully accessible to meet requirements of all attendees of any Commission event.
Develop a reasonable adjustment policy based on definition in discrimination law taking into account any new definition put forward in the review of the ACT Act.
Disability Adviser
December 2019
Commission endorsed Reasonable Adjustment Policy.
Policy used when conducting recruitment and provided at induction to new employees.
Ensure the Human Rights Commission is a best practice employer for people with a disability.
Executive Officer
Disability Adviser
Ongoing
Reminders sent 6 monthly and given at Staff meetings
Ensure adequate reasonable adjustments are made for employees with disabilities as per reasonable adjustment policy.
Undertake recruitment practices to promote the employment of people with a disability at the Commission.
Commissioners
Finance and Administration Manager
Ongoing
Every time recruitment takes place
Reminders sent 6 monthly and given at Staff meetings
All advertised vacancies offer to assist applicants with a disability through the recruitment and selection process.
All positions encourage people with disabilities to apply.
All applicants with a disability are offered an interview if they meet all the selection criteria if recruitment not done on the papers
All vacant positions are advertised through disability networks such as through LEAD and Australian Network on Disability.
Provide Disability Employment Opportunities
Public Advocate and Children and Young People Commissioner
Disability Adviser
Annually
Work with LEAD to have one placement provided per year
Promotional materials
Communications Officer
Ongoing
All brochures reviewed with regard to plain English and to reduce legalistic language.
All staff are aware of their obligations under the Commission’s DAP.
Public Advocate and Children and Young People Commissioner
Disability Adviser/Executive Manager
As required
All new staff meet with Disability Adviser or Executive Manager to go over the DAP as part their induction.
Regular reminders given at staff meetings
Promote compliance with discrimination law
Disability & Community Services Commissioner
Annually
Providing training on disability discrimination
Develop Social Inclusion Plan to expand DAP obligations
Commissioners
Executive Manager
January 2020
New Plan