Accessibility and Inclusion Plan 2016-2019

Accessibility and Inclusion Plan 2016-2019Building Australian Red Cross as an organisation inclusive of people of all abilities

Message from our President and CEO .................................... 3

What do we mean by people of all abilities? ............... 5

The strategic reasons for our commitment to people of all abilities ......................................................................................... 6

Red Cross Strategic Goals ........................................................................... 7

Lessons from Red Cross’ first Disability Action Plan ........................................................................................ 9

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Red Cross’ Reconciliation Action Plan .................................. 10

Cultural and Linguistic Diversity ................................................... 10

A focus on Members and Volunteers ................................... 10

Our vision, areas of key results and commitments ............................................................................................. 12

Statement of Commitment .................................................................. 15

HumanityThe International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavours, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, co-operation and lasting peace amongst all people.

ImpartialityIt makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavours to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.

NeutralityIn order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

IndependenceThe Movement is independent. The National Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the principles of the Movement.

Voluntary serviceIt is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.

UnityThere can be only one Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.

UniversalityThe International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all Societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other, is worldwide.

2 | Accessibility and Inclusion Plan 2016-2019

Contents Fundamental Principles

Cover image.

Popi Rawlinson was a valued volunteer with Red Cross emergency services in South Australia for several years before taking up a paid position as a family support worker in central Queensland.

As someone who lives with dyslexia and an acquired brain injury her tips for people with disability are to advocate for your needs and build in things that make you happy. And her advice for people who work with someone with disability? See and search out their strengths.

Australian Red Cross seeks to be a more diverse organisation which is inclusive of people of all abilities.

Our vision of human dignity for all and our Fundamental Principles of humanity and impartiality call us to reflect the diversity of the communities in which we work, both in Australia and internationally.

By including people of all abilities we will draw on a broader range of experiences, skills and perspectives in our members, volunteers, staff, clients and beneficiaries. The insights and energy that flow from being a more diverse organisation will enable us to better achieve our strategic goals.

People with disability want the same opportunities as everyone else, to feel connected to other people, to be involved in activities which provide meaning and purpose, to earn a living and to pursue the things they are interested in. Australian Red Cross commits to playing our part in providing opportunities for people of all abilities.

Our vision is that Australian Red Cross respects people of all abilities, enables inclusion and address barriers to meaningful participation

The vision is fully aligned with Strategy 2020 and is also in accordance with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent commitments to disability inclusion.

In practice our vision means that:

• We value the abilities and capabilities that all people bring to Australian Red Cross.

• We focus on what people can do, rather than what they can’t.

• We actively embrace people of all abilities to have meaningful participation in Australian Red Cross and within the broader community.

Our Accessibility and Inclusion Plan 2016-2019 builds on the work we undertook through our previous Disability Action Plan (2012-2015). Australian Red Cross is deeply committed to furthering this work through the implementation of this second disability action plan.

Fundamental Principles

Accessibility and Inclusion Plan 2016-2019 | 3

Michael Legge President

Judy Slatyer Chief Executive Officer

A message from our President and CEO

We understand that including people of all abilities is relevant to every aspect of Australian Red Cross and also has broader implications for the Australian and international communities in which we work.


Isabel Stankiewicz is the beating heart of the Jeays Street community centre which Red Cross runs in inner-city Brisbane.

“Disability is a spectrum and everybody’s on it” she says.

Isabel has a congenital joint condition known as distal arthrogryposis type 2. “It’s really only when somebody treats me like I have a disability that I feel like I have one. Otherwise I consider myself to be completely normal in every way.” Isabel is a Red Cross Disability Inclusion Champion, promoting inclusivity across the organisation.

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Australian Red Cross believes that everyone brings different and diverse abilities and skills to what they do and who they are. In this Plan we have used the term “people of all abilities” to focus attention on the capacity that everyone has to contribute.

‘People of all abilities’ is an inclusive and strength based term which is consistent with what Australian Red Cross seeks to achieve through the Accessibility and Inclusion Plan 2016-2019. It is used in preference to “disability” because the focus of disability is on what can’t be done.

In using the term people of all abilities Australian Red Cross does not intend to avoid the reality or impact of disability. We recognise that disability is a part of the human condition affecting about 18.5% of the Australian population and over one billion people worldwide.

Australian Red Cross, like the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement understand and define disability as “people who have physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairments, which in the interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others” (the definition used in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities).

Within this definition we understand that:

• Disability is not inherent to the individual and his or her “condition” rather it is the result of the interaction between the enabling or disabling characteristics of the social, political and economic environment the person lives in and his or her impairment, limitation or restriction.

• The experience of disability is diverse and that no two people with disability are likely to have precisely the same experience.

What do we mean by people of all abilities?


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Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement contextThe Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement have had a commitment to disability inclusion which reaches back over 30 years. The most recent expression of this commitment is the Strategic Framework on Disability Inclusion by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement which was endorsed by the Council of Delegates in December 2015.

The framework commits all components of the Movement to adopt a disability inclusive approach. It focusses the Movement on changing mindsets and behaviours to promote respect for diversity and the inclusion of people with disability. The Framework also seeks that people with disability have equal access and full participation in the services and programs the Movement provides.

The implementation of the Accessibility and Inclusion Plan 2016–2019 will enable Australian Red Cross to meet the requirements of the Movement’s Strategic Framework and to comply with reporting requirements outlined in the Framework.

Australian Red Cross Strategy 2020Including people of all abilities in Australian Red Cross is aligned to Strategy 2020. Being inclusive promotes human dignity which is at the core of the Strategy 2020 vision. Being inclusive of people of all abilities is also aligned with our commitment to the Fundamental Principles of humanity and impartiality.

By including people of all abilities Australian Red Cross will be a more diverse and active humanitarian organisation (Goal 1 of Strategy 2020) as well as being stronger, more innovative and accountable through drawing on a broader range of viewpoints and perspectives (Goal 5 of Strategy 2020).

Goals two, three and four of Strategy 2020 are about what we do – the services and programs Australian Red Cross provides as well as the advocacy we undertake. People with disability are vulnerable due to stigma, lack of opportunities, deprivation of rights, poverty and disempowerment.

In times of disasters, wars and conflict people with disability have heightened vulnerability in comparison with people who are not disabled.

For the groups of people Australian Red Cross specifically target under goals two, three and four of Strategy 2020 there is a higher prevalence of disability than in the general community. These targeted groups include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, asylum seekers, disadvantaged families, people who are homeless, people impacted by the justice system, people who have mental health issues and older people. By including people of all abilities Australian Red Cross addresses issues of dignity, empowers people, accords people their human rights and supports people with disability in addressing the issues they face. We also contribute to the social capital of Australia as well as internationally.

Policy on DiversityAustralian Red Cross has committed to respect diversity and the reduction of intolerance, racism and social exclusion in all its forms. This commitment is outlined in our Policy Statement on Diversity which references the Red Cross and Red Crescent Fundamental Principle of Humanity.

The Statement outlines that Australian Red Cross does not discriminate on the basis of disability or nationality, race, culture, gender, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, social background, family status, marital status, age or political opinions¹.

The strategic reasons for our commitment to people of all abilities

¹ Australian Red Cross Policy Statement on Diversity (2010), available at www.redcross.org.au/files/Policy_on_Diversity.pdf

Red Cross Strategic Goals


VisionHuman dignity, peace, safety and wellbeing for all.

PurposeSupporting and empowering people and communities in times of vulnerability, preventing and alleviating suffering across Australia and Internationally through mobilising the power of humanity.

Strategic Goals


Build an inclusive, diverse and active humanitarian movement based on voluntary service

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2 Save lives, build resilient communities and support people in disasters

3 Prevent and alleviate human suffering in times of war and conflict and promote non violence and peace

4 Improve the wellbeing of those experiencing extreme vulnerability

5 Maintain a strong, innovative, sustainable and accountable organisation capable of achieving our humanitarian goals

6 Provision of a safe, secure and cost effective supply of blood and blood products


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anMohammad Iqbal works as a carpenter building Red Cross/ Red Crescent shelters in flood hit Pakistan. As he climbs down from his perch building roof rafters you notice that Iqbal cannot use his lower legs. Born with a disability, Iqbal walks on his knees and does not have full mobility of his hands. But that has not diminished his resolve to succeed at whatever he tries.

“My physical disability has never created hurdles in my life,” says Iqbal while he saws a piece of timber. “I never looked it as a disability and in fact, I am working better than many people around me. I like that I am not dependent on others.”

Lessons from Red Cross’ first Disability Action Plan


In 2012, Australian Red Cross put in place our first Disability Action Plan which ran through to December 2015. The Plan outlined five outcomes:

1. Reduce barriers to people with a disability accessing Australian Red Cross programs, services and facilities.

2. Ensure that internal and external communication is inclusive of people with a disability and work to change discriminatory attitudes through humanitarian diplomacy and advocacy.

3. Increased awareness, skills and competencies of Red Cross people and increase the number of people with a disability within Red Cross work force (staff and volunteers).

4. Ensure workplaces are welcoming and accessible environments for people of all abilities.

5. Commit to learning from the inclusion of people with a disability in the design and assessment of programs and advocate for disability inclusive practices within the wider International Movement.

A review of the Plan identified that about 31% of the 69 actions outlined in the Plan had been completed or substantially completed. Overall, the review concluded that the five outcomes identified in the Disability Action Plan 2012-2015 remain areas of further work for Australian Red Cross. As a consequence there is strong continuity between the directions of the Disability Action Plan 2012-2015 and the key result areas outlined in the Accessibility and Inclusion Plan 2016-2019.

Key learnings from the Disability Action Plan that Australian Red Cross has taken account of in developing the Accessibility and Inclusion Plan 2016-2019 and how it will be implemented are:

• Be aspirational in what we set to achieve, but do not be unrealistic.

• Ensure executive leadership has strong ownership of the Accessibility and Inclusion Plan.

• Integrate the commitments and actions outlined in the Accessibility and Inclusion Plan into the organisational wide planning and budgeting processes.

• Ensure responsibility and accountability for the commitments and actions in the Accessibility and Inclusion Plan are clear and monitored on a regular basis by Executive as well as governance levels of Australian Red Cross.

• Implement a strategy to communicate the vision and commitments and support the changes that are sought through implementing a change management plan.

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Red Cross’ Reconciliation Action PlanThe vision of Australian Red Cross is that Australia’s First Nations peoples share a prosperous, safe and healthy future with all other Australians². It is therefore disturbing to note that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have twice the level of disability of non-Indigenous people.

36% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have some form of disability compared to about 18.5% of the overall population³.

Australian Red Cross is actively working to implement its Reconciliation Action Plan 2015-2018. There is a linkage between the Reconciliation Action Plan and the Accessibility and Inclusion Plan through a commitment within the first Key Result Area of the Accessibility and Inclusion Plan to develop and implement a set of actions that respond to the impact of disability on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.

This commitment will be reflected in an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander specific section of the Annual Accessibility and Inclusion Workplan outlining the actions that will be undertaken in each of the three years of the Accessibility and Inclusion Plan 2016-2019.

Cultural and Linguistic Diversity In Australia one in four people with a disability is a person either born overseas or the child of someone born overseas. In total about 1.6 million people with disability identify as coming from a non-English speaking ancestry⁴.

Red Cross recognises people with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds may face additional barriers due to language, culture or race. Australian Red Cross is committed to responding to the

additional barriers that are experienced and will give specific consideration to including people with disability from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

A focus on Members and VolunteersAustralian Red Cross draws heavily on its 20,000 members and 21,000 volunteers in enacting our strategic goals and seeking to achieve our vision. In building an organisation inclusive of people of all abilities we recognise the existing contributions of our members and volunteers with disability. We commit to developing a culture that is more inclusive of people of all abilities and supported through systems, processes and procedures that enable meaningful participation for members and volunteers in Australian Red Cross.

Our Policy and Strategic Framework on Voluntary Service recognise the importance of volunteers representing the diversity of the Australian community. This Accessibility and Inclusion Plan builds on this foundation to ensure people of all abilities are meaningfully included in Australian Red Cross. The second key result in this Plan specifically relates to our workforce. Volunteers as well as staff are the focus of this result area to Recruit, retain and develop a workforce of staff and volunteers that includes people of all abilities.

Australian Red Cross also seeks to ensure our membership represents the broad and diverse communities of Australia, including people of all abilities. Under this Accessibility and Inclusion Plan members are encouraged to champion Australian Red Cross’ work in their communities.

² Australian Red Cross, Bright Futures: Reconciliation Action Plan 2015-2018.³ Australian Bureau of Statistics and Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey 2012/13

Australian Bureau of Statistics and Disability, Ageing and Carers 2012⁴ Data provided by National Ethnic Disability Alliance based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2012 Survey of Disability Aging and Carers


Jeffrey Von’t Steen has an autism spectrum disorder and began volunteering in the Red Cross warehouse through a disability employment service. He holds a Diploma of Business and felt that working in a warehouse was not the best use of his skills and was determined to do something related to his qualifications. Jeffery moved into the Red Cross Supporter Services team. “It was good to gain new skills and learn more as well as to help out the community,” says Jeffrey.

Peter, the Manager of the team saw Jeffrey’s proficiency for the job and worked with the disability employment service to transition Jeffrey to a part time paid position. Jeffrey says that getting a ‘thank you’ at the end of each day has helped him to feel a deeper sense of worth and increased his self-esteem. “Peter always says, I’m part of the furniture,” Jeffrey jokes.

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Informed by Strategy 2020 as well as the Strategic Framework on Disability Inclusion by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent, our vision is:

Australian Red Cross respects people of all abilities, enables inclusion and address barriers to meaningful participation.

Over the period 2016-2019 to work toward this vision Australian Red Cross will focus on the five key result areas outlined on the table on the facing page and in respect to these areas makes the commitments specified.

The Board owns the Accessibility and Inclusion Plan 2016-2019 and has delegated the responsibility for implementing the Plan to the CEO. To ensure performance and accountability the CEO has delegated

the key result areas to the Executives with the primary responsibility for that key result area.

So that we know whether we are meeting our commitments key performance measures have been developed to provide high level markers of progress over the three years of the Plan. In addition the specific actions to achieve the commitments across the areas of focus will be set out in an Annual Accessibility and Inclusion Workplan.

Implementation of the Annual Workplan will be monitored at governance and executive levels. The monitoring and performance arrangements on the key performance indictors and implementation of the Annual Workplan are outlined in the diagram and table below.

Reporting Executive Governance

Accessibility and Inclusion Plan Key Performance Measures

Quarterly through the Consumer Centred Care Strategic Steering Group (chaired by the CEO)

Six monthly through the Services Committee (a Board sub-committee)

Dashboard reporting on the Annual Accessibility and Inclusion Workplan

Quarterly through the Consumer Centred Care Strategic Steering Group (chaired by the CEO)

Six monthly through the Services Committee (a Board sub-committee)

Our vision, areas of key results and commitments

MANAGEMENT

CEO and Executive

Consumer Centred Care Strategic

Steering Group

Accessibility & Inclusion Plan

Implementation Group

Accessibility & Inclusion Plan

2016-2019

Annual Accessibility and Inclusion

Workplan

Vision, focus areas, three year

commitments and key

performance measures

Traffic light reporting

against actions

GOVERNANCE

Australian Red Cross Board

Services Committee

(a sub-committee of Board)

Monitoring and Performance


Key Result Area Commitments 2016-2019 Key Performance Measure

1. Continue to build a culture of inclusion

(Executive responsibility: Director of Community Programs)

• Australian Red Cross staff and volunteers demonstrate the capability to be inclusive of people of all abilities

• The voices of people of all abilities are included in relevant planning and decision making processes

• Australian Red Cross provides leadership on disability inclusion within the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement

• A set of actions that respond to the impact of disability on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities are developed and implemented

Each year of the Plan Australian Red Cross achieves a higher score on the Australian Access and Inclusion Index* (baseline rating July 2016)

2. Recruit, retain and develop a workforce of staff and volunteers that includes people of all abilities

(Executive responsibility: Director of Human Resources)

• Australian Red Cross has a diverse workforce that includes people of all abilities

• People of all abilities further develop their skills and are retained in our workforce

• Volunteers and staff with disability are supported when they leave Australian Red Cross

• Flexible and adaptable work practices for people of all abilities are available

An increase of at least 10% each year in the proportion of staff and volunteers who identify as having a disability (baseline July 2016)

3. Provide good access and appropriate functionality in our properties, assets and facilities for people of all abilities

(Executive responsibility: Chief Financial Officer)

• Access to, and functionality of, our premises, physical assets and information technology for people of all abilities is improved

• Reasonable adjustments to our facilities and information technology are made to meet the needs of people of all abilities

• Staff involved in property and asset selection and design are aware of the implications and requirements for being inclusive of people of all abilities

100% of newly occupied and fitted out premises are compliant with relevant Disability Discrimination Act standards#

4. Communicate effectively with and about people of all abilities

(Executive responsibility: Director of Marketing Fundraising and Communications)

• Communication products and supporting systems are in place to promote understanding and awareness of disability inclusion to Australian Red Cross people and our stakeholders

• External communication is accessible to people of all abilities where appropriate

An independent review of Communications products and systems shows enhanced accessibility and inclusivity (baseline August 2016)

5. Enhance the accessibility and responsiveness of our services and programs to people of all abilities

(Executive responsibility: Director of Community Programs)

• The Consumer Centred Care approach to tailor Australian Red Cross services to our consumers is implemented

• Access to our services for people of all abilities is improved

• The economic participation of people with disability is enhanced through Commercial operations

• Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies in the Asia-Pacific region are partnered with to ensure that programs provided are accessible and inclusive of the needs of women, men, girls and boys of all abilities

The proportion of consumers with disability registered in the Client and Case Management system increases by 7% per annum (baseline 2016/17)

* The Australian Access and Inclusion Index has been developed by the Australian Network on Disability and it’s partners to assist organisations in assessing inclusiveness and benchmarking against other organisations.

# The Disability Discrimination Act standards have been in force since 2010. The Disability Discrimination Act does not require retrofitting of premises to meet the standards unless significant renovations or upgrade works to the premises occur. Red Cross premises will therefore have different standards applying to them under the Disability Discrimination Act dependent on the date of the premises construction.


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Mary Edwards is known around the Red Cross office in Adelaide for her beaming smile. She volunteers there every Friday to help staff with administration work, a role she says is stimulating and makes her feel useful.

Diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a young child and not able to walk, Mary has long aspired to do a fulfilling job, so when the opportunity to volunteer at Red Cross came up, she, in her signature way, was beaming.

“I love socialising and meeting people, and being useful, doing important tasks.”

“I enjoy doing something different each week, I like the work.”

Importantly for Mary, she says it makes her feel good. “I feel more part of the community.”

Statement of Commitment


The Australian Red Cross Executive is committed to building Red Cross as an organisation that is inclusive of people of all abilities.

Our vision is that Australian Red Cross respects people of all abilities, enables inclusion and address barriers to meaningful participation.

We believe that Australian Red Cross’ long term success is closely linked to being a diverse organisation that is able to draw on the broad range of experiences, skills and perspective which our people bring. Equally we make this commitment because Strategy 2020 drives us to seek human dignity for all and our Fundamental Principles of humanity and impartiality call us to be inclusive of people of all abilities in all that we are and all that we do.

As an Executive over the period 2016-2019 to work toward our vision we will focus on:• Continuing to build a culture of inclusion• Recruiting, retaining and developing a workforce

of staff and volunteers that includes people of all abilities

• Providing good access and appropriate functionality in our properties, assets and facilities for people of all abilities

• Communicating effectively with and about people of all abilities

• Ensuring our services are accessible and responsive to people of all abilities

We undertake to provide leadership across these areas and to be accountable to the commitments outlined in this Plan under the key result areas. We believe that how we work is as important as what we do and also commit as Executive staff to living out behaviours that are inclusive of people of all abilities.

This commitment was given by all members of the Executive on 26 April 2016. Over the three year period of this Plan the membership of the Executive will no doubt change, collectively however we will ensure continuity to the commitment to enact the Plan.

Judy Slatyer Chief Executive Officer

Cameron Power Chief Financial Officer

Noel Clement Director of Australian Services

Veronica Frost Chief Information Officer

Jennifer Gibb Director Marketing, Fundraising and Communications

Kerry McGrath Director of Community Programs

Dr Phoebe Wynn-Pope Director International Humanitarian Law & Movement Relations

Chris Steinfort Director Human Resources

Peter Walton Director of International Program

Chris Wheatley Director Strategy and Perfomance

Tom Scarborough Director Commercial Operations

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ACT3 Dann ClGarran ACT 2605T +61 2 6234 7600

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How can I become a supporter?Red Cross relies on committed volunteers, members and donors.

You can support Red Cross by:

giving monthly, leaving a bequest in your will or making a one-off donation;

visiting your local Red Cross store;

donating blood.

redcross.org.au or call 1800 811 700

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Accessibility and Inclusion Plan 2016-2019

Documents

Transcript of Accessibility and Inclusion Plan 2016-2019