Page 2166 - Week 06 - Thursday, 7 May 2009

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .


§ On 1 January 2009, the new National Disability Agreement came into effect. The Agreement includes key areas of reform in services for people with disabilities with the objective that “People with disability and their carers have an enhanced quality of life and participate as valued members of the community”.

§ The ACT Government supported the Commonwealth Government ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which it did in July last year.

§ By ratifying the Convention, Australia joined other countries around the world in a global effort to promote the equal and active participation of all people with disability.

§ The principles outlined in the policy framework reinforce the rights of all children and young people to participate and be included in their community and to have access to the universal, targeted and specialised supports and services they require.

§ The range of supports and services currently available in the ACT are provided with the cooperation of Government and non-government agencies. I take this opportunity to thank all providers for the work they do in supporting children and young people with a disability and their families in the ACT.

§ The policy framework has been developed by the Department of Disability Housing and Community Services, with the specific collaboration of ACT Health and the Department of Education and Training.

§ I commend the ACT Government Policy Framework for Children and Young People with a Disability and their Families to the Assembly.


Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .