To ensure Monash Health is best supporting those with a disability, we are currently undertaking a consultation process to inform and update the current Disability Action Plan.
Over 4.4 million people in Australia have some form of disability. That’s 1 in 5 people. People of working age with disability have both lower labour force participation (53.4%) and higher unemployment rates (10.3%) than people without disability (84.1% and 4.6% respectively). People with disability are also three times more likely to avoid an organisation and twice as likely to dissuade others because of an organisation’s negative diversity reputation.
Particularly relevant for Monash Health are the health inequities faced by people with disability. For example, people with an intellectual disability die 27 years earlier than the general population, and up to half the deaths of people with an intellectual disability are preventable.
The Disability Action Plan underpins how Monash Health will continue to create positive change and actively reduce barriers, promote inclusion, change attitudes and practices, and improve outcomes for our employees, volunteers, patients and visitors with a disability. You can read the current Disability Action Plan by clicking here.
The consultation process will allow Monash Health to listen and engage directly to better understand the needs of our employees, volunteers and the community we support who either have or support someone with a disability. The consultation process is open until 31 August 2021.
Over the next few weeks, Monash Health will be holding focus groups and interviews to discuss, listen and learn more about how we can be a safe, accessible, welcoming and inclusive health service for those with a disability.
For employees, if you would like to be part of the consultation you are strongly encouraged to participate in one of our upcoming focus groups listed below:
- Thursday, 5 August at 10:00 – 11:00am
- Friday, 6 August 2:00pm – 3:00pm
- Monday, 9 August 10:00 – 11:00am
- Tuesday, 10 August 2:00 – 3:00pm
You can register by emailing disabilityactionplan@monashhealth.org or calling (03) 9792 7597. Employee responses to the People Matter Survey will also be considered in the consultation process.
Volunteers are also strongly encouraged to be involved. You can also participate in a focus group, interview or alternatively you can complete a Volunteer Survey by clicking here.
We also encourage you to invite patients, visitors and the community to learn more about the Disability Action Plan and take part in the consultation process. They can learn more about the Plan and participate in the consultation process by clicking here.
For more information about the Disability Action Plan and the consultation process please visit the webpage.