How we implement the plan
A call to action − this is a joint venture
Employers, disabled people and people with health conditions told us they want this action plan to be a joint venture with government. It is very clear that we must work together on the actions in this plan to create more inclusive labour markets. Each objective and priority in the plan has a role for all stakeholders to do their bit in making it happen. Whether it be improving funding, adjusting systems (e.g. referral or human resource systems), providing information, busting myths, testing new approaches, taking a chance, monitoring and advocating for progress, learning new skills or taking up a great job to reach your potential.
Cross-government teamwork that fosters and builds on progress
This action plan does not act alone. It is a part of the Government’s Employment and Disability Strategies. The plan identifies actions in several other government priorities including: the Reform of Vocational Education; the Welfare Overhaul; the Careers System Strategy; the Learning Support Action Plan; Transformation of the Disability Support System and the recovery and revitalisation of our economy in the post COVID-19 world.
The fast pace of change in economic, social and health circumstances in 2020 has been met with a swift Government response and many new policy and service settings are emerging. These changes create both challenges and opportunities to progress employment priorities for disabled people and people with health conditions.
Continuous improvement – a ‘living plan’ in the post-COVID-19 context
The role of the plan, and of monitoring processes, in the context of on-going change is to ensure new opportunities are recognised and progressed and potential new barriers prevented. The plan will provide a disability employment lens across government’s work programme.
Monitoring processes will offer a constructive and ambitious focus for regularly reviewing how to best address the priorities identified in the plan across government.
The key mechanisms for this monitoring include:
- regular reporting to Ministers by the agencies with responsibilities outlined in the plan
- a dashboard of indicators of progress to check whether the actions and outcomes are on track
- regular review to allow the plan to evolve as opportunities arise
- coordination and synergy with monitoring of the Government’s employment strategy implementation
- contributions to regular reporting to the Disability Ministers group and the Independent Monitoring Mechanism (which includes Disabled Person’s Organisations, the Human Rights Commission and the Office of the Ombudsman).
