3 August 2022
Territory Labor’s vision for an inclusive society, where people living with disability, their families and carers are valued and respected, is a step closer today with the launch of the Territory’s first Disability Strategy and Action Plan.
Minister for Disabilities Ngaree Ah Kit, launched the ten-year strategy and first three-year action plan during a ceremony at Parliament House.
The strategy was developed with expertise from the Disability Advisory Committee and community input, including from those with lived experience of disability, taking into account their families, carers and significant others, government and non-government services.
Business and community leaders, local governments, arts, culture and sports organisations contributed to the strategy and action plan in a collaborative approach to creating an inclusive and welcoming Territory.
Importantly, it identifies opportunities to better support people living with disability in remote regions of the Territory.
Minister Ah Kit will visit each region across the NT in the coming weeks so that stakeholders in the disability sector can learn about the strategy and ask questions specific to their region and needs.
The strategy aims to empower people with disability through:
protecting and respecting their rights and choicesbreaking down barriers to achieve social inclusion and participationincreasing accessibility to places, information and servicesproviding education, skills and opportunities to increase employment and provide financial securitysupporting their health and wellbeing.
The strategy underscores a whole-of-government commitment to fulfilling the NT’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Australian Disability Strategy 2021-2031, and Closing the Gap: Disability Sector Strengthening Plan.
It will also incorporate future recommendations from the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
The action plan details the step-by-step process through which the priorities of the strategy will be achieved.
Information about the strategy can be found at:
here.
Quotes from Minister for Disability, Ngaree Ah Kit
“The Territory Labor Government is proud to deliver the NT’s first detailed strategy on how we can build the most inclusive community possible.
“From the moment I became the Minister for Disabilities, it’s been my goal to work to achieve a society of equal participation, regardless of where people live.
“This strategy and the first action plan outline how we can together work towards this, setting out what we need to do to ensure an inclusive Territory where people with disability are valued, respected and can contribute to community whether they live in Darwin or in a remote community.
“But we haven’t done this alone. Experts on the Disability Advisory Committee, those working in the disability sector, and more than 140 people with lived experience of disability have together contributed to this strategy and action plan.
“We look forward to continuing this work, hand-in-hand with the community to realise their vision of an inclusive community of which we can all be proud.”
Quotes from Co-chair NT Disability Strategy Steering Committee, Liz Reid AM
“I’m delighted by the launch of the inaugural Northern Territory Disability Strategy 2022 – 2032 that promotes inclusion, accessibility and equality for people with a disability in the Northern Territory.
“The Strategy is a whole of NT Government commitment that aligns to Australia’s Disability Strategy and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with a Disability that ensures and promotes human rights are upheld.
“More importantly the Strategy and Action Plan has been informed and developed by people with a disability, families and communities across the NT making sure that it is relevant and that people with a disability can live the life they choose with dignity and respect”
Northern Territory Government
