About the Disability Action Plan

The University of Melbourne has made significant changes to its policies, programs and infrastructure as a direct result of the Disability Action Plan prepared in 1994. In undertaking a review process for the Action Plan, it was understood that additional change must be congruent with existing strategic and operational processes. To incorporate disability issues into the University's strategic and operational processes, importance was placed on undertaking comprehensive consultation with students and staff across the University to ensure that strategies, goals and targets were developed that integrate readily with University operations.

Action Plan Process

The University of Melbourne Access and Equity Committee established a Disability Action Plan Working Group to develop the Disability Action Plan. The Working Group undertook consultation with students and staff, negotiated goals and targets, and prepared the Disability Action Plan.

Student consultation

In addition to ongoing feedback between the working group and students with disabilities, a series of public forums was held during 2002 focusing on issues that were brought to the attention of the Disability Action Plan Working Group.

• Physical access and the issues involved for students in accessing the physical environment of the University.
• Access to information, including access to materials in an alternative format, AUSLAN interpreting, library access, information technology, and web based information, and the impact this has on student participation within the University.
• Attitudes towards disability and the impact this has on student participation at the University.

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Staff consultation

A staff forum seeking feedback from staff on issues considered to be important to the participation of students with disabilities at the University was held during 2002, facilitated by the President of Academic Board.

The staff and student forums informed the Disability Action Plan Working Group of key issues and assisted in developing strategies, goals and targets relevant to the needs of staff involved in supporting the needs of students with disabilities.

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Reference Groups

A series of reference groups was established focusing on the key issues identified during staff and student consultation.

• Teaching and learning issues
• Student support
• Access to information
• Physical access
• Employment of people with disabilities

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Disability Action Plan Development

The Disability Action Plan Working Group prepared briefing papers relevant to the expertise of each Reference Group. Draft goals and targets were developed from the findings of the staff forum, student forums and communication with relevant stakeholders. The Disability Action Plan goals and targets were developed to meet a number of criteria including:

• alignment with strategic objectives of the University
• achievable targets in the context of existing operational constraints
• measurable goals to facilitate the review of performance against targets
• responsibility allocated to appropriate positions for goal attainment
• effective meeting of the needs of students with disabilities, as identified during the student consultation processes

The goals and targets agreed to by the Reference Groups were then consolidated into a set of University-wide goals and targets to form the Disability Action Plan. Access and Equity Committee recommended adoption of the Plan to Planning and Budget Committee and Academic Board to ensure that provision was given to meeting goals and targets with significant resource or policy implications. The Disability Action Plan was endorsed by Council in November 2003.

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Review and Accountability Processes

The University has an annual planning and review cycle which is documented in the publication Ensuring Accountability and assists in the achievement of planning objectives and targets and the assurance of quality of teaching and learning and student support services. The Disability Action Plan accountability and review process will be incorporated into this cycle and the following strategies will be utilised to facilitate compliance with the Plan.

1. Goals and targets relevant to each department of the University will be extracted from the Disability Action Plan each year and forwarded to the persons responsible for the attainment of the goal. This process will occur annually during September to ensure that Action Plan objectives are included in the planning process of Faculty and Divisional Operational Plans.
2. Goals and targets relevant to each department of the University will be reviewed against performance measures as part of the annual performance review cycle occurring during September.
3. Performance of individual staff apportioned with responsibility for implementation of goals and targets of the Action Plan will be reviewed by incorporating Action Plan goals and targets in the key performance indicators of staff using the University's staff performance appraisal framework.
4. Information from the performance review will be collated into an annual report for the University's Access and Equity Committee. Any gaps existing between targets and performance will result in appropriate measures being undertaken to ensure non-achieved goals and targets are met in the following planning cycle.

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Communication Processes

Ensuring that the University community is aware of and committed to the Disability Action Plan is a crucial facet of the Plan. The following strategies will be adopted to communicate the Disability Action Plan effectively to the University community.

• An official launch of the Disability Action Plan will be held.
• A website including the Disability Action Plan and regular updates on progress against targets will be developed.
• Staff with a designated responsibility for targets in the Action Plan will be contacted during the annual planning cycle to ensure that operational plans incorporate Action Plan goals and targets.

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