I am pleased to deliver the Department of Treasury and Finance’s first Disability Access and Inclusion Plan.

Promoting the rights of South Australians living with disability and ensuring all people enjoy the same access and inclusion experience within our community is of the upmost importance.

Through this plan, the department will continually strive to foster a work environment that embraces diversity, inclusion and upholds the rights of people living with disability to access the services and programs we deliver.

We know that through embracing the individual skills, perspectives and experiences that our employees bring to the workplace, we can improve our services to the South Australian community.

This plan demonstrates our commitment to an inclusive South Australian community in which all people living with disability are included, recognised and respected. I look forward to leading the implementation of these actions across our service.

David Reynolds
CHIEF EXECUTIVE

This Disability Access and Inclusion Plan (DAIP) is available on the Department of Treasury and Finance website, or in alternative formats such as Easy Read, large font, electronic format (disk or emailed), audio or Braille, on request.

The Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF) is the lead agency for economic, social and financial policy outcomes, where we play a vital role in providing economic and fiscal policy advice to the government of South Australia. Our people conduct research, analyse information, give advice, contribute to government policy and decision-making and support the Treasurer in producing the State Budget.

Our people also provide corporate and business services in the areas of Payroll, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable and Financial Services so that all South Australian government departments can focus on their core business operations.

As an organisation we contribute to South Australia by providing financial services to the community, covering asset and liability management, collection of state taxes, insurance and superannuation as well as services for work health and safety and state-based industrial relations services across South Australia.

DTF staff and offices are based across metropolitan Adelaide (Adelaide CBD, Keswick, Port Adelaide) and regional South Australia (Berri, Mount Gambier, Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Whyalla).

Our staff profile

As at August 2020, DTF employed 1,795 people. Of these, 48 people, equating to 2.7% of the workforce, self-identified as having some form of disability.

We are committed to workforce diversity and reducing the barriers that prevent full participation at work for people with disability through ensuring an accessible workplace and technologies.

Our purpose and objectives

DTF’s purpose is ‘working together to support the future prosperity and wellbeing of all South Australians’. Our objectives are to:

1. Empower and trust our skilled, diverse, flexible and committed people
2. Promote and support responsible budget and financial management
3. Deliver timely high-quality services to meet the needs of our clients
4. Collaborate to deliver high-quality advice, policy, compliance and regulation

Our vision

Our vision is to enable an accessible and inclusive South Australia based on fairness and respect. To achieve this vision, DTF will focus on four key focus areas:

1. Inclusive communities for all
2. Leadership and collaboration
3. Accessible communities
4. Learning and employment

Through our actions DTF aims to achieve the following:

• To increase the employment opportunities and retention of people with disability, and position the department as an employer of choice for candidates with disability
• To acknowledge and respect the positive impact that employees with disability have on the work environment
• To build relationships with people with disability and expand the knowledge of all staff around the lived experience of people with disability
• To support the full economic and social participation of people with disability in the community
• To enable disability access and inclusion to become an integral part of everyday business.

Our guiding principles

This DAIP is based on the following principles for people living with disability to have the fundamental right to a workplace that:

• Respects their responsibility and autonomy, where their individual worth and dignity is recognised.
• Supports their participation in social and economic life, and enables them to make decisions, including supported decisions and to take risks.
• Provides access to information in appropriate forms and methods
• Respects privacy and confidentiality and enables effective complaint management and access to justice when needed.
• Their managers, colleagues and peers acknowledge and respect the crucial role of their families, carers and significant persons in supporting them in the workplace.
• Acknowledges and respects their abilities, strengths, goals and individual needs.

Further supporting this, in the development of this plan and all other relevant materials DTF supports the concept – Nothing about us without us – that is, no policy is decided by any representative without the full and direct participation of members of the group(s) affected by that policy.

Our approach will include a human rights-based approach which seeks ways to respect, support and celebrate human diversity by creating the conditions that allow meaningful participation by a wide range of people, including people living with disability.

Strategic context

This DAIP was developed in accordance with the Disability Inclusion Act 2018 (SA) (the Act) and is strategically aligned to the Inclusive SA: State Disability Inclusion Plan 2019-2023 (the State Plan).

In 2018, the Act was passed because the South Australian Government recognised that a stronger commitment to access and inclusion planning for people living with disability was needed. The Act supports the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), and mandates the development of Disability Access and Inclusion Plans for State authorities under Part 5, section 16.

The State Plan sets a framework to support State authorities to implement the National Disability Strategy (NDS) by developing a Disability Access and Inclusion Plan.  Annual reporting against DTF’s DAIP and the State Plan will fulfil the requirements of the Act and align the South Australian Government’s achievements towards the NDS’s areas of policy action.

The DTF DAIP is aligned to the themes and priority areas of the Inclusive SA: State Disability Inclusion Plan 2019–2023.

Consultation

Consultation and collaboration occurred with the following key stakeholders and feedback received informed the final version of our DAIP:

• People and Performance team, DTF
• Branch Executive Directors, DTF
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee, DTF
• DTF employees who have identified as living with disability
• Across-government DAIP Consultation Community of Practice
• SA Public Sector Disability Employment Reference Group
• Members of the public through the YourSAy Disability Access and Inclusion Plan consultation hub
• Department of Human Services Disability Engagement Group

Our DAIP will undergo regular reviews and updates. While the official public consultation period for DTF’s DAIP has now closed, feedback is still welcome at any time. To provide feedback, you can call us on +61 8 8226 9500 (call‑back service), email us at commservices@sa.gov.au or write to us at GPO Box 1045, Adelaide SA 5001.

Relationships to other policies, strategies, frameworks

This DAIP supports and complements the following policies and procedures:

• DTF Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy
• DTF Wellbeing for Our People Policy and Plan 2018–20
• DTF Fair Treatment in the Workplace Procedure
• DTF Flexible Working Arrangement Policy and Procedure
• DTF Ergonomic Issue Guideline for Managers
• DTF Standing Desk Ergonomic Setup Guideline
• Government of South Australia Online Accessibility Policy
• South Australian Public Sector Disability Employment Strategy and Plan 2020–21

The development of this DAIP was guided by the following action, conventions, plans and organisations:

• Inclusive SA: State Disability Inclusion Plan 2019 - 2023
• Disability Inclusion Act 2018 (SA)
• Disability Discrimination Act 1992
• United Nations Conventions on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• Equal Opportunity Act 1984
• Australian Human Rights CommissionThe South Australian Equal Opportunity Act 1984

Examples of previous achievements

• Policy development on the 2013 reforms to South Australian Compulsory Third Party insurance scheme, including the creation of the Lifetime Support Scheme for people who suffer catastrophic injuries in motor vehicle accidents.
• Provision of ongoing policy and financial advice on the NDIS and support for the state’s commitment to the National Disability Agreement, through the State’s Disability Plan ‘Inclusive SA’ (2019-2023). This work has involved: Active membership on national intergovernmental groups considering national disability reform; Participating in negotiating the parameters for the various intergovernmental NDIS agreements; and Continuous evaluation of the relevant agreements and the sector taking into account NDIS scheme performance, market development and the state’s ongoing financial commitment and obligations.
• CTP Insurance Regular website approved by the Royal Society for the Blind.
• Language help information available on DTF websites and access to the Interpreting and Translating Centre to provide professional interpreting services
• Employment of staff member with disability in the Budget and Performance Branch, through a specific provision in the Public Sector Act.
• Redesign of several office spaces to facilitate better access for people with disability (Levels 5, 8, 10 and 19 of Wakefield House; Levels 1, 2, 5, 6 and 7 of the State Administration Centre)
• Work Health and Safety (WHS) Advisory Service working with industry to make workplaces safe and ensure compliance. SafeWork SA’s WHS Advisors work directly with businesses to gain an understanding of the work being undertaken and the diversity of the workforce before providing tailored advice to ensure all workers, no matter their needs, have a safe work environment.

Acknowledgements

Our DAIP was developed with guidance and assistance from DTF employees who identify as living with disability.  DTF gives special thanks to those employees for sharing their advice, insights and lived experience during the development of this plan.

Implementation process

The DTF Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) Committee in partnership with the People and Performance branch will support the monitoring and implementation of the DAIP. Progress against the plan will be reported to the DTF Executive Leadership Group annually in June, the Minister for Human Services by 31 October each year and in DTF’s Annual Report. In accordance with the Act, DTF will formally review the DAIP at least every four years.

Through online communication channels, we will launch this DAIP to our staff and stakeholders and communicate regularly about our ongoing commitment to ensuring the rights of people living with a disability are upheld across our department and in the community.

DAIP

Disability Access and Inclusion Plan. This is prepared by State authorities for their own agency, department or council area.

State Authority

As defined in the Disability Inclusion Act 2018 (SA) to include a government department, an agency or instrumentality of the Crown, a local council constituted under the Local Government Act 1999 (SA) or any other person or body declared by regulations to be included.

Disability

Disability is defined in Part 1 – Preliminary, Section 3 of the Disability Inclusion Act 2018 as: Disability, in relation to a person, includes long-term physical, psycho-social, intellectual, cognitive, neurological or sensory impairment, or a combination of any of these impairments, which in interaction with various barriers may hinder the person's full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others

Accessibility

Accessibility is about ensuring that people with disability have equal access to programs, employment, training, goods and services, premises, communication, information and technology.

Inclusion

Inclusion is about embracing and harnessing our diverse resources. It is about removing attitudinal, behavioural and physical barriers so that everyone feels valued and respected, has equal access to opportunities, and is empowered to participate and contribute their skills and perspectives to their workplace and society.

Unconscious bias

Unconscious bias refers to a bias that we are unaware of, happens automatically and which happens outside of our control. It is our brain’s way of making quick judgments and assessments of people and situations, using our background, cultural environment and personal experiences over our lifespan. Unconscious bias is reflected in the prejudices and stereotypes that are deeply seated within us as a result of our socialisation.

People and Performance

People and Performance is a business unit of DTF. The People and Performance business unit comprises the following teams: Communications and Digital Engagement Team; Business Performance and Reporting; Human Resources; Organisational Development; and Work Health and Safety.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee

The Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee advocates the importance of equity, diversity and inclusion with respect to all staff across DTF regardless of gender, race, age, religious beliefs or personal commitments. The Committee maintains a focus on the strategies, policies and plans that raise awareness and create cultural change in relation to:

• prevention of violence against women
• gender equality in leadership
• Increasing diversity and inclusion in DTF to provide equal opportunity to all employees regardless of their differences
• advancing the reconciliation movement
• access and inclusion for people living with disability
• wellbeing for DTF staff.

Supported decision-making

Supported decision-making is the best practice approach to enhance the ability of people with disability to make their own decisions. When someone makes a decision on behalf of another person without their consent, a fundamental right is being denied. This applies to every person, including people with disability. While the right to make our own decisions has always been there, it is a right that not everyone with a disability has enjoyed. For people who have difficulty making a particular decision, supported decision-making is an approach that demonstrates respect for people’s rights to make decisions about their own lives.

Reasonable Adjustment

Some people who live with disability can face barriers at work because of how their work situation is organised. In many cases, these barriers can be removed by changing some feature of the workplace environment. Making these changes is commonly referred to as ‘reasonable adjustment’. Employers have a responsibility to make reasonable adjustments to the workplace so that an employee with disability can do their job effectively. Failure to do so may amount to discrimination.

UNCRPD

United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: a human rights treaty that aims to change attitudes and approaches to people with disability. It reaffirms that all people with disability must enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Universal Design

Universal Design involves creating facilities, built environments, products and services that can be used by people of all abilities, to the greatest extent possible, without adaptations.