Rights & Inclusion Australia Townsville Workshop – 1 December 2011 – initial outcomes
The Workshop was attended by approximately 45 participants representing key stakeholders and summary reports and audio / video highlights will be posted shortly. Initial outcomes include:
- Adverse implications of the Price Waterhouse Coopers Report on all Australian with a disabilities. OECD ranks Australia 21st out of 29 countries in employment participation rates for people with a disability, with 45% living near or below the poverty line
- An estimated 37% of Indigenous Australians have a disability compared to the national statistic of 19%
- Lack of knowledge and awareness about support services available to First People with a disability (FPWD)
- Process fundamentally upside down, with indigenous agencies mainly staffed by non indigenous people
- Key importance of respect, and the need to change mind sets of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders and non indigenous people
- Federal initiatives including the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) provide opportunities for real change, and need effective involvement of all stakeholders
- NDIS provides important opportunities for regional and remote communities
- Employment opportunities for FPWDs should be based on access to training, equality, job security and enjoyment
- Federal and Queensland employment strategies, policies and guidelines for setting up a business are available, and links will be posted at www.riaustralia.org in due course
- Creating employment requires a combination of available opportunities and innovative ideas
- The best outcomes result from building and maintaining good partnership
- Better outcomes for FPWDs need to be based on strong family values and effective transition to employment, education and social inclusion