Disability Action Plan 2008 – 2011

1. Introduction

1.1 Purpose

The purpose of the AEC’s Disability Action Plan 2008 - 2011 (the Plan) is to outline:

the actions the AEC will undertake over the next three years building upon the achievements of the AEC’s previous Disability Action Plan (2004-2007); and
the roles and responsibilities of AEC staff and managers for implementation of the Plan.

The legislative and policy context for development of the AEC’s Disability Action Plan 2008 – 2011 is outlined in Appendix A, and the outcomes of the previous AEC Disability Action Plan 2004-2007 are outlined in Appendix B.

1.2 Objectives

The AEC’s Disability Action Plan 2008 - 2011 has two key objectives:

1. To maximise the accessibility of the AEC’s products and services for people with disability of all types, and to enable people with disability to effectively participate in the electoral process. This means ensuring that the AEC’s key outcomes are delivered in a manner that takes into account the needs of people with disability wherever possible:

Outcome 1 - An effective electoral roll

Australians have an electoral roll which ensures their voter entitlement and provides the basis for the planning of electoral events and electoral redistributions.

Outcome 2 - An impartial and independent electoral system

Stakeholders and customers have access to and advice on impartial and independent electoral services and participate in electoral events.

Outcome 3 - An informed community

An Australian community which is well informed about electoral matters.

2. To ensure that the AEC is accessible as a workplace, affording equal opportunity for staff members (and prospective staff members) with disability. It seeks to ensure that processes for recruitment and promotion, as well as workplace conditions, allow equal opportunity for people with disability.

In relation to the achievement of the second objective, this Disability Action Plan will complement the AEC’s Workplace Diversity Policy and Plan that identifies people with disability as one of the target groups and includes provision for the removal of physical and cultural barriers in the recruitment process; merit based selection; and the availability of necessary equipment to allow all employees to participate in the workplace.

1.3 Key Audiences

In seeking to ensure the accessibility of the AEC’s products and services, the key audiences for the AEC’s Disability Action Plan are:-

the electors and future electors with disability;
AEC staff who are responsible for delivery of electoral services; and
current and prospective AEC staff members with disability, and their managers and co-workers.

“Disability” in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 includes physical, intellectual, psychiatric, sensory, neurological, and learning disabilities, as well as physical disfigurement and the presence in the body of disease-causing organisms.

The Plan has been developed taking into account the views of peak groups representing people with disability, including but not limited to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and the member organisations of the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations.

1.4 Roles and Responsibilities

1.4.1 The AEC Access and Equity Officer

The day-to-day responsibility for coordinating the Plan and monitoring its implementation rests with the AEC Access and Equity Officer, who is located in the AEC’s Communications and Information Strategy Branch in National Office.

1.4.2 Executive Sponsor

A member of the Executive is appointed by the Electoral Commissioner to sponsor action on disability issues in the AEC. The Sponsor’s role is to provide strategic guidance to the Access and Equity Officer and play a lead role in promoting an organisational culture in which the needs of people with disability are considered and acted upon. The Executive Sponsor is the Assistant Commissioner, Communications and Information Strategy, who will work closely with the Assistant Commissioner, People and Performance, the Executive Sponsor for the AEC’s Workplace Diversity Plan, in fostering appropriate cultural behaviour across the AEC towards people with disability.

1.4.3 Strategic Advisory Committee (SAC)

The Strategic Advisory Committee consists of the AEC’s National Executive together with the State Managers and SES-level Deputy Managers of the AEC state offices. Its role is to assist the Electoral Commissioner by providing input to significant decisions and in determining those strategies that will most effectively position the AEC to achieve its outcomes now and into the future.

The responsibilities of SAC include:

Overseeing the development, implementation, monitoring, review and evaluation of the AEC’s Disability Action Plan; and
Actively supporting and encouraging disability access and workplace diversity in the AEC.

1.4.4 Supervisors and Managers

In accordance with the Australian Public Service (APS) Code of Conduct, Values and other legislation, all managers and supervisors must:

Treat all employees and prospective employees fairly and with respect and select employees on the basis of merit;
Encourage the delivery of services in a manner that is as accessible as possible for people with disability.

1.4.5 All Employees

All AEC employees must act in accordance with the APS Values and Code of Conduct. This means they must treat everyone with respect and courtesy, and without discrimination and strive to provide electoral services in a manner that will enable people with disability to engage in the electoral process as fully and easily as possible.

1.5. Constraints on Action Plan Implementation

Whilst the AEC is committed to providing the best possible access and service to clients including people with disability, it should be noted that the AEC delivers a range of its electoral services in premises that it does not own or control (for example, polling places in local community venues).

Since the dates for federal elections are not known until the election is announced, it is not always possible to secure venues or deliver electoral services, in a manner that meets the full range of access requirements for people with disability.

In the case of polling places for federal elections, it is the AEC’s policy to hire premises with appropriate access first. However, where full access for people with disability cannot be provided, the AEC will include this information in its advertising published prior to polling day.

1.6. Consultation and Review

This Plan is aligned with the federal election cycle and will be reviewed in consultation with the peak disability groups represented in the AEC’s Disability Advisory Group and with AEC staff. Progress on implementation of the Plan will be reported on in the AEC’s Annual Reports.