 » Access and Equity Policy |
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Access and Equity Policy
| Policy Recommended by Leadership Committee: | Date: December 2007
| Policy Ratified by Board of Directors:
| Date: December 2007
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Policy Statement
CREATE is committed to providing equitable and accessible services to children and young people / consumers and key stakeholders that are inclusive of culture, gender and disability. CREATE values diversity and respects social and cultural difference.
Definition
Access is the process of ensuring equality of opportunity irrespective of race, language, culture, religion, gender, age, ability and geographic location.
Equity is the process of allocating resources fairly, regardless of race, language, culture, religion, gender, age, ability or disability. Equity ensures that all people have supports to access, achieve and participate at the same level.
Authority
CREATE has a legal responsibility to ensure that its policies and practices uphold core values espoused in Human Rights legislation, specifically the:
• Anti-Discrimination Act 1991
• Queensland Ethnic Affairs Policy
• Equal Opportunity in Public Employment Act 1992
• Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth)
• Affirmative Action (Equal Opportunity for Women) Act 1977 (Cth)
• Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth)
• Disability Services Act 1986 (Cth)
• Disability Discrimination Act 1993 (Cth)
• Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth)
• Commonwealth Policy of Multiculturalism and its inherent Access and Equity Strategy
Definition
Key Stakeholders – includes all relationships that CREATE has with sector partners, including those who may hold CREATE membership
Principles
Principles have been sourced from the Australian Governments Access and Equity Plan 1999-2001
- Access
Services should be available to everyone who is entitled to them and should be free from any form of discrimination, irrespective of a person's country of birth, language, culture, race or religion.
- Equity
Services should be developed and delivered on the basis of fair treatment of children and young people and key stakeholders who are eligible to receive them.
- Communication
CREATE will use strategies to inform eligible children and young people and/or key stakeholders of services available and their entitlements and of how they can obtain them. CREATE will also consult with children and young people and key stakeholders regularly about the adequacy, design and standard of services.
- Responsiveness
CREATE will be sensitive to the needs and requirements of children and young people, staff and key stakeholders from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and responsive as far as practicable to the particular circumstances of individuals.
- Effectiveness
CREATE is 'results-oriented' and focused on meeting the needs of children and young people and key stakeholders from all backgrounds.
- Efficiency
CREATE will optimize the use of available public resources through a user-responsive approach to service delivery that meets the needs of children and young people and key stakeholders.
- Accountability
CREATE has reporting mechanisms in place according to statutory guidelines, and accordance with relevant legislative requirements and accounting guidelines that are transparent, and accountable.
Links
CREATE Complaints Policy
Purpose
The Access and Equity Policy aims to ensure that all Australians accessing CREATE services (regardless of race, linguistic and cultural background, religion, age, gender, ability or disability, or geographic location) have:
- equitable access to the full range of services provided by the organisation, and
- equal opportunity to participate
Process
CREATE will work towards achieving its aims through the following processes:
- Including Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) target groups within its management structures and workforce;
- Implementing access and equity principles and including EEO target groups in its strategic planning, policy development and other processes;
- Recognising language and cultural knowledge as skills when assessing suitability for employment in the organisation;
- Acknowledging overseas qualifications when assessing suitability for employment;
- Ensuring that information about CREATE’s role and services is provided in culturally relevant formats, languages (where possible) and locations
- Articulating a commitment to ongoing organisational training in cross-cultural awareness, communication and sensitivity;
- Collecting and analyzing appropriate data to assist in the development of effective strategies to ensure inclusiveness in CREATE management, membership, policy development and service delivery;
- Providing physical accessibility to CREATE facilities and/or utilising accessible venues;
- Evaluating the effectiveness of strategies to implement the Access and Equity Policy and
- Having a complaints policy and/ or mechanism that enables all people including those from diverse backgrounds and linguistic groups to raise concerns about the services provided
External
Human Resources
- All jobs advertised are to be inclusive of culturally diverse applicants; and should contain phrases such as “culturally diverse applicants are encouraged to apply”
- If Indigenous or culturally diverse applicants apply the interview panel should consist of members from culturally diverse backgrounds
- Induction process should be inclusive and culturally appropriate
Physical environment accessibility
- Physical environment of the workplace should be culturally and linguistically appropriate and accessible to staff employed with a physical disability.
- Hours of business displayed on service brochures / front of building / and web-site
- Locality of centre demonstrated on service brochures and web-site
- Physical access disability friendly with ramp or lift access for wheelchairs, and toilet fitted with railing. If this is not available alternative venues for meetings or contact should be arranged. Where appropriate Car Park access to include disability parking
Access to services
- All newsletters distributed to children and young people, corporate sponsors, volunteers, staff and statutory bodies should promote services offered, and detail how to access them
- Information about services available should be displayed in reception areas, and on organisational brochures and promotional materials, and on the website
- Information where possible should be printed in different languages (dependant on need) where appropriate, or interpreters made available to explain services
- Signage on buildings to include contact details
- Fire evacuation plans displayed in each room
- Participation in specialist events such as Foster Care Week and Child Protection Week – promoting the programs and services of CREATE
Internal
Human Resources
- Induction materials for staff / volunteers from culturally diverse backgrounds should be appropriate and reflect cultural sensitivity
- Students on placement – culturally diverse placements should be considered by management and appropriate induction provided to support the student where necessary and appropriate
- CREATE should endeavour to be understanding of religious commitments for staff and where possible accommodate staff needs
Access to Services
- CREATE has Service Agreements in place in each state and / or territory and is required to provide statistical data to funding bodies at quarterly review meetings that provide details of how, when and frequency of services provided. Services are provided in line with Service Agreement specifications
- CREATE will display pamphlets detailing services including culturally and linguistically diverse services for children and young people to access
- taff training calendar to include culturally diverse training options and to be included in either;
a) staff training or workshops- in house or external or
b) guest speakers at staff meetings - When conducted, service user survey’s will be inclusive of questions relating to the accessibility of services, and appropriateness of culturally sensitive practice and services offered by CREATE
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