Disability Act 2006 Edited on 19 August 2007

The Disability Act 2006 came in force in Victoria on 1 July, 2007. Under the Act a new Victorian Disability Advisory Council has been formed. Another part of the Act is about Disability Action Plans.

Victorian Disability Advisory Council

The Council provides advice to the Minister for Community Services on issues that affect people with a disability across all government services.

The Council is a way for people with a disability to have a say in decision making on whole-of-government policy issues. Most Council members must be people with a disability and they must come from a range of different backgrounds.

Rhonda Galbally has been appointed Chair of the Victorian Disability Advisory Council.

Disability Action Plans

A Disability Action plan is a plan to:

• Reduce barriers for people with a disability as community members
• Make it easier for people with a disability to use services available to all Victorians.

The Act says that all public services - government departments, statutory authorities and statutory corporations - must have a Disability Action Plan. Statutory authorities and statutory corporations will be identified before the act commences. Public services must report on their Disability Action Plan every year, to make sure the plans are put into practice.