Appendix A Applicable Disability Services Standards

The following lists the 11 Disability Service Standards, and the supporting standards of those directly related to the provision of employment support.

Standard 1 Service Access

Each consumer seeking a service has access to a service on the basis of relative need and available resources.

Standard 2 Individual Needs

Each person with a disability receives a service which is designed to meet, in the least restrictive way, his or her individual needs and personal goals.

Standard 3 Decision Making and Choice

Each person with a disability has the opportunity to participate as fully as possible in making decisions about the events and activities of his or her daily life in relation to the services he or she receives.

Standard 4 Privacy, Dignity and Confidentiality

Each consumer's right to privacy, dignity and confidentiality in all aspects of his or her life is recognised and respected.

Standard 5 Participation and Integration

Each person with a disability is supported and encouraged to participate and be involved in the life of the community.

Standard 6 Valued Status

Each person with a disability has the opportunity to develop and maintain skills and to participate in activities that enable him or her to achieve valued roles in the community.

Supporting Standards

1. The agency’s written policies and procedures reflect the valued status of consumers.
2. The agency promotes the abilities, contribution and competency of people with a disability.
3. Each person with a disability has the opportunity to develop and maintain skills, capacities and lifestyles that are valued in the community.

Standard 7 Complaints and Disputes

Each consumer is free to raise and have resolved, any complaints or disputes he or she may have regarding the agency or the service.

Standard 8 Service Management

Each agency adopts sound management practices which maximise outcomes for consumers.

Supporting Standards

1. The agency ensures the legal and human rights of people with a disability are upheld within the service.
2. The agency provides a safe physical environment for its consumers.
3. Consumers have the opportunity and support to take part in the planning, management and evaluation of the service.
4. The agency monitors its activities and regularly evaluates whether it is meeting its objectives and the Disability Services Standards.
5. The roles and responsibilities of the board, committee of management, and staff of the agency are clearly defined, documented and available.
6. People with a disability receive services from appropriately skilled and competent staff.
7. The agency ensures that its employed and volunteer staff receive appropriate support; and that they understand their role, the administration of the agency and the service, and their accountability for their work related activities.
8. The agency implements a policy on affirmative action with regard to employment of people with a disability.
9. The agency develops and implements written policies and procedures relating to complaints and disputes by staff and other persons.
10. Resources are managed to maximise the funds available to provide services for consumers.
11. The agency has available, upon request, annual reports that demonstrate consumer, service and financial outcomes.
12. The agency has a process of co-ordination with other agencies, advocacy and consumer organisations in the area.

Standard 9 Employment Conditions

Each person with a disability enjoys comparable working conditions to those expected and enjoyed by the general workforce.

Supporting Standards

1. The agency ensures that each employee with a disability has the same rights, protections and responsibilities as other people in the workforce.
2. The agency ensures that each employee with a disability receives an agreed minimum wage or salary which reflects progress toward an award-related wage.
3. Where the agency is also the employer, the budgeted costs of the agency reflect progress towards an award-related wage.
4. The agency recognises that labour costs of employees with a disability are an integral cost of running a business and accordingly are a part of the budgeted costs.
5. The agency’s budget reflects that Government contributions do not subsidise the wages and salaries of employees with a disability.
6. The agency provides opportunities for career advancement, including access to training and skills development consistent with the opportunities provided in the general workforce.
7. The agency ensures that each employee with a disability works in a job and in a work environment in which he or she receives the same employment conditions, rights, protections and responsibilities as those expected and enjoyed by other people in the general workforce.
8. The agency ensures that employees with a disability are supported on the basis of their needs and interests and are not grouped solely on the basis of their disability.
9. The agency ensures that each employee with a disability receives award wage rates or pro-rata award wage rates determined through an independent industrial relations process.
10. The agency ensures that each employee is employed under an award or industrial agreement.

Standard 10 Employment Support

The employment prospects of each person with a disability are maximised by effective and relevant support.

Supporting Standards

1. The agency has a commitment to successful long-term employment for each person with a disability.
2. The support activities of the agency are directed towards assisting people with a disability to achieve and/or maintain employment in jobs which satisfy the employment conditions standard.
3. Each person’s support program is based on an individual assessment.
4. The level of support to be provided is agreed between the agency and each person with a disability.
5. The agency develops a range of supports to meet the employment related goals of each person with a disability.
6. The agency provides work support and work-related support to assist with skills development, jobseeking, job participation and job retention of each person with a disability.
7. The provision of support allows the maximum participation and integration of each employee with a disability into the work and social activities of the workplace.
8. The agency regularly reviews the level and type of support provided to meet the agreed ongoing and changing needs of each person with a disability.
9. The agency provides or facilitates training to each person with a disability covering his or her industrial rights and the industrial relations environment.
10. The agency ensures that each person with a disability is supported on the basis of his or her need and interests and is not grouped solely on the basis of his or her disability.

Standard 11 Employment Skills Development

The employment prospects of each person with a disability are maximised by effective and relevant training.

Supporting Standards

1. The agency has a commitment to successful long-term employment for each person with a disability.
2. The agency ensures that people assist in Commonwealth funded employment services before 1 March 1993, continue to receive a ‘wage’, allowance or other payment no less, in real terms, than they received at that date.
3. The agency provides a range of training and work experience that is employment focused and directed towards developing and maintaining skills which are relevant to current and future labour market needs.
4. Each person with a disability is assessed within a maximum of three years by a Disability Support Pension panel or an equivalent mechanism, to determine the nature and scope of appropriate postskills development support and eligibility for continuing employment skills development.
5. The agency ensures that people in receipt of support in funded employment services on 1 March 1993 will have the opportunity for continued support.
6. The agency, in consultation with each person with a disability, identifies and documents his or her training and skills development needs and the approaches to meeting those needs.
7. The agency ensures that the agreed approach to meeting the training and skills development needs of each person with a disability is implemented and reviewed with that person in terms of progress towards securing open employment with a defined and agreed time limit.
8. The agency provides access to work experience and on-the-job training in areas of employment that focus on marketable skills and/or realistic opportunities for employment.
9. The agency provides assistance and support in job seeking and job participation through developing formal links with employment placement agencies.
10. The agency is taking steps to accredit courses, recognise trainers and register training providers in accordance with the objectives of the National Framework for the Recognition of Training (NFROT).
11. Any training, including on-the-job training is in accord with the objectives of the National Framework for the Registration of Training (NFROT).