Minister's message
I am pleased to share the final Inclusive SA: State Disability Inclusion Plan 2019–2023 (Inclusive SA) Annual Report, which highlights the achievements made by State Government agencies and local councils (State authorities) in improving access and inclusion for people with disability across South Australia between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023.
Inclusive SA has been our vehicle for driving a whole-of-government approach to access and inclusion and over the past four years we have seen good improvements across many areas of our community. In particular, in the past 12 months we have:
- Seen more children and young people with disability enjoy the benefits of recreation through the distribution of Sports Vouchers and access to the VACSWIM program.
- Introduced fee-free TAFE courses, including 1,014 new enrolments of students with disability.
- Ensured all new Adelaide Metro buses are built with accessible features, such as ‘next stop’ information systems, which notify people of the next stop to alight.
- Conducted targeted and inclusive volunteering recruitment campaigns, actively encouraging people with disability to join the State Emergency Service in a range of roles specifically created for varying abilities.
- Enhanced access to important accessibility information through the Pavely smartphone app to ensure people with disability can find accessible and inclusive locations, public toilets and the State’s Changing Places facilities in real time.
My sincere thanks to all those involved for their continued efforts to improving access and inclusion for people with disability. Although there is still plenty of work to be done, the past four years provide a strong foundation to build into the next chapter of the State Disability Inclusion Plan.
My department has now commenced the process to review and redevelop a new State Disability Inclusion Plan for the next four years and identify our priority areas for focus and action. With the launch of the SA Autism Strategy 2024–2029 we also have an opportunity to ensure disability-related reform works in strong alignment of one another to maximise progress and ensure meaningful outcomes are achieved. All State authorities under the Disability Inclusion Act 2018 (SA), along with the broader disability community, will work together throughout the development process to ensure the needs and aspirations of all people with disability and/or neurodivergence are considered and responded to.
I am proud of what we have achieved so far and look forward to what is still to come. We remain steadfast in our commitment to achieving our vision for an accessible and inclusive South Australia based on fairness and respect.
Hon Nat Cook MP
Minister for Human Services
This site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Licence. © DHS .
