Theme Two: Leadership and collaboration

• Priority 4: Participation in decision-making
• Priority 5: Leadership and raising profile
• Priority 6: Engagement and consultation

Priority 4: Participation in decision-making

Action 10

Share the learnings of the improved supported decision-making approach for people living in State Government accommodation services with State authorities.

The Office of the Public Advocate (OPA) Supported Decision-Making project activities include:

• delivering Supported Decision-Making training to OPA Guardianship staff
• piloting the My Life My Wishes form with 40 people under Guardianship
• partnering with JFA Purple Orange to coordinate a co-design process for people with decision support needs
• producing a Supported Decision-Making promotional video suite for SA Health.

Action 11

State authorities to support young people living with disability to actively participate in decision-making.

81% (7% increase from 2020-2021) of State authorities are supporting young people with disability to actively participate in decision-making.

Further information can be found in State authorities’ Disability Access and Inclusion Plans (DAIPs). All DAIPs can be accessed on the Inclusive SA website.

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Priority 5: Leadership and raising profile

Action 12

Develop a communications strategy to promote BoardingCall, the South Australian Government recruitment register for boards and committees, to ensure it is promoted to people living with disability.

Department of the Premier and Cabinet engaged Vision Australia to audit the BoardingCall website to ensure it met accessibility requirements and identified changes have been implemented. Following final testing, BoardingCall will be promoted to people living with disability.

Action 13

Ensure high quality and co-ordinated engagement with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, including providing consistent, accurate and relevant information, through a dedicated response unit led by the Attorney-General’s Department.

The Royal Commission Response Unit continues to provide high quality and co-ordinated engagement with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.

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Priority 6: Engagement and consultation

Action 14

Develop a toolkit that supports State authorities to consult and engage with people living with disability when developing policies and programs, which:

• promotes and explains co-design principles
• focuses on supports for consultation within regional South Australia.

Completed in Inclusive SA 2020–2021 Annual Report

Action 15

Review the function of the Disability Engagement Group (DEG) to:

• ensure membership is focused on people living with disability and carers
• increase membership in rural and regional areas
• increase the use of the DEG members in decision-making and policy initiatives
• support members to develop advisory and leadership skills.

Completed in Inclusive SA 2020–2021 Annual Report.

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The voice of lived experience: Disability Engagement Group (DEG)

“We’re a mixed bunch in the Disability Engagement Group. Some of us use wheelchairs, others have guide dogs, some care for a loved one with a disability and others have disabilities that are not so visible. We come from different backgrounds, have different experiences, live in different areas and range in age from teenagers to retirees.

We have one vision, however. A common bond. A passion to improve the lives of people living with disability. At the time of reporting the group had met three times - twice via Zoom and most recently face-to-face. We’re still getting to know each other and the lived experiences we bring to the table. But we’re keen and committed.

So far, we’ve been asked to comment on a legislative review, contribute to community consultations and provide feedback on the Disability Access and Inclusion Plans (DAIPs) delivered in the past 12 months. It’s encouraging to see progress in tangible on the ground initiatives outlined in the DAIPs.

It takes time to deliver on ambitious plans, particularly those that involve raising awareness, improving community understanding and changing behaviours. The DEG is keen to contribute and up for the challenge.”

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