3 March 2022 - meeting 6 - communique

The sixth meeting of the Northern Territory Disability Advisory Committee (the Committee), and the first of 2022, was held on 3 March 2022. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the outcomes of the Northern Territory Disability Strategy consultations, proposed amendments to the Care and Protection of Children Act 2007, modernisation of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1992 and the new Northern Territory Library at the Education and Community Precinct.

Minister’s Update

The meeting was attended by the Hon Kate Worden MLA, Minister for Disabilities. The Minister provided members with an update on a number of local and national reforms and initivates, including:

• The Northern Territory Government release of a further seven parcels of land in December 2022 to enable the construction of additional Specialist Disability Accommodation in the Northern Territory.
• The consultation period for the Strategy concluding on 31 December 2021, and the Strategy being released in mid-2022.
• The commencment of the fulltime, Northern Territory based Auslan interpreter on 24 January 2022.
• The Northern Territory Government, in partnership with YouthWorX NT and Deaf Connect, having selected 13 Territorians to participate in the Northern Territory Auslan Scholarship Program.
• The release of Australia’s Disability Strategy on International Day of People with Disability, 3 December 2021 celebrated locally at Parliament House.
• The Disability Service and Inclusion Awards held at Parliament House on 15 December 2021.

Law Reforms

Ms Seranie Gamble, Director, Law Reform, Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities, presented to members on proposed changes to the Care and Protection of Children Act 2007 as it pertains to children with disability under the care of Territory Families. Law Reform is proposing to, amongst other amendments, include a new principle to assist decision-makers when exercising a power or performing a function for children with disability. Ms Gamble sought members’ views on what is important for decision-makers to consider when providing care to children with disability, and who needs to be involved to ensure the child is safe.

Northern Territory Disability Strategy

Ms Karen Giele, Senior Project Officer, Office of Disability, presented on the outcomes of the Northern Territory Disability Strategy consultations. At completion of the public consultation on 31 December 2021, 55 surveys and 29 submissions were provided via the Northern Territory Government Have Your Say webpage and to the Office of Disability directly.

Approximately 146 members of the public participated in face-to-face consultation through Disability Advocacy Service and Darwin Community Legal Service engagement activities. The activities occurred in Darwin, Tiwi Islands, Nhulunbuy, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Alice Springs and Amoonguna.

During the consultation period, the Office of Disability also held an online information session and attended key events to consult with the public. In addition, four working groups were established to support consultation and seek the input of stakeholders, including people with lived experience and advocates, Northern Territory Government agencies and statutory offices, main-stream service providers, and the National Disability Insurance Agency and specialist disability services providers.

Priorities identified from the consultations include:

• Provide community education and awareness on disabilities, including mental illness, supporting accessibility and being inclusive.
• Reduce the confusion and challenges experienced by people with disability and their families when seeking to access and utilise the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and increase supports for participants and families to navigate and manage the NDIS and their packages.
• Increase availability of accessible housing and accommodation options available and improve timeliness of access to housing.
• Increase affordable public transport options for people with disability, particularly in remote areas.
• Improve accessibility of buildings, places and infrastructure such as pathways.
• Increase opportunities for employment and improve employers’ inclusive practice and disability awareness.
• Increase the number of local services and local access to services, particularly for allied health and mental health services.
• Increase employment of local people in disability services provision, particularly in remote areas to improve local knowledge and cultural competence of workers.

Changes to the Anti-Discrimination Act 1992

Ms Sally Sievers, Commissioner, Anti-Discrimination Commission, described the changes to the Anti-Discrimination Act 1992 (the Act) which are most relevant to the disability community, including:

• Establish a representative complaint model to allow organisations (including disability organisations) to bring complaints on behalf of groups they represent in relation to an Act, practice, policy or program that is discriminatory towards that group.
• Create rights to protect those living with a disability who experience vilification because of their disability. This may include words made in a public space may reasonably offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate a person living with a disability, about their disability.
• Provide rights for assistance animals beyond guide and hearing dogs.
• Update language in the Act, remove reference to “impairment” replace with “disability” and remove offensive terms such as “handicapped.”
• Include rights for carers who experience discrimination. This could be at work, while receiving a service, or through education.
• Provide that accommodation of special needs for a person with an attribute (includes those with a disability and their carers) at work, in education, service provision, accommodation and clubs is a positive duty.
• Provide a positive duty to achieve equality for Territorians.
• Expand the definition of work, including volunteer and non-traditional work arrangements.

Northern Territory Library at the new Education and Community Precinct

Mr Patrick Gregory, Senior Director, Library and Archives NT, Department of Territory Families, Housing and Communities explained how the Northern Territory Library is moving from Parliament House to the new Education and Community Precinct at Charles Darwin University in 2024. Mr Gregory sought members’ feedback on accessible requirements to be incorporated into the design.

Office of Disability Update

Ms Michelle McColm, Acting Director, Office of Disability, Department of Territory Families Housing and Communities informed members of the Office’s key priorities for 2022, in addition to the items mentioned in the Minister’s update, including:

• The review of the Northern Territory Disability Services Act 1993 to reflect the changes that have occurred with the implementation of the NDIS and a renewed focus on access and inclusion for people with disability to mainstream services and social inclusion.
• The Northern Territory data sharing arrangements with the National Disability Insurance Agency which includes a number of Northern Territory Government agencies and clarifies data sharing arrangements between the NDIS and these agencies.

The date for the next meeting of the Committee will be provided on the webpage.

Mr Chris Blackham-Davison
Chair, Northern Territory Disability Advisory Committee