Page 2796 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 16 August 2017
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The work of the Disability Reference Group is supported by the Office for Disability to provide policy and program expertise. The Office for Disability also supports ongoing policy and oversight responsibilities related to the implementation of the NDIS in the ACT, ensuring that the ACT can monitor and advocate in relation to issues related to both participant and provider experience in the NDIS.
The ACT government wants to see flexibility and diversity in programs, services and supports for people with disability across our community.
MR PETTERSSON: How is the government supporting individuals and organisations to raise awareness and be inclusive of people with disability?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I thank Mr Pettersson for his supplementary question. We are committed, of course, to ensuring the delivery of a broad range of services and programs that support people with disability to have control over what supports they have and to be able to live the life they choose. The ACT government also continues to support individuals and organisations to raise awareness and be inclusive of people with disability.
The ACT government’s 2017-18 budget, for example, provides $200,000 over four years for new disability access grants. These grants will support greater social inclusion for people with disability by increasing opportunities for people with disability to participate in mainstream community and volunteer groups. Small grants will be made available to enable groups to become more inclusive, with grants being considered for training, awareness raising and infrastructure modifications. I look forward to announcing further information about these grants later in the year.
Additionally, up to $25,000 has been provided for the 2017 I-Day grants. I-Day stands for International Day of People with Disability. I-Day is held on 3 December each year and is the United Nations sanctioned day that is celebrated internationally. It aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate the achievements and contributions of people with disability across the community. This year up to $5,000 is available to individuals and/or organisations to assist in staging programming or events for I-Day.
As well as highlighting the role of people with disability in our community, I-Day events may also raise awareness of issues facing people with disability. Applications for this program will close on 4 September 2017. I encourage all members in this place to raise awareness of the program and to participate in I-Day activities when they come around on 3 December and in that week.
MS ORR: Minister, how have Canberrans marked International Day of People with a Disability in previous years?
MS STEPHEN-SMITH: I-Day brings together individuals, schools, businesses, community organisations and governments from every corner of the globe to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions, skills and achievements of people with disability.
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