Council stands for action
Sunshine Coast Regional Disability Council Chair Kay MacLean, second from right, enjoyed an opportunity to catch up with fellow council members, from left, Garry Hooper, Tony McIntyre
and Janelle Kenna at an induction for new members.Giving people with a disability a "strong voice in government" is just one of the many roles performed by the Disability Council of Queensland, says Disability Services Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr.
Recently appointed for a new three-year term, the Disability Council of Queensland (DCQ) has an important mandate to advise the Minister on issues, policy and strategy, and propose solutions to problems at a local level.
Minister Nelson-Carr is confident that the councils will continue to bring the views and experiences of Queenslanders with a disability from across the state to the policy-making process. "Council members play a
vital role, providing important advice on policy and other decisions made
by the department," she says.
Disability Council of Queensland Chair Paul Larcombe, who is now serving in his second term as chair,
is encouraging the disability sector, as well as individuals, to link with the council networks to provide
quality advice to the Minister on systemic issues.
"The structure gives us links to government at many levels."
The DCQ comprises an independent state chair, as well as chairs of ten Regional Disability Councils. Bi-annual meetings are attended by all members as well as Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr and senior Disability Services Queensland staff.
It is the regional layer below this group that carries out much of the grass roots work, Paul explains. Each region also has its own Regional Disability Council made up of between seven and 10 local members. The meetings are attended by the department's Regional Executive Director and the local Member of Parliament.
Regional knowledge is the key to the structure," Paul says. "If the Regional Disability Council sees a need to do something about an issue, it can refer that matter directly to the department through the Regional Executive Director through central council meetings. The structure gives us links to government at many levels."
The layered structure means issues can be dealt with at any level, or even move all the way to the top if needed. "Each region has an equal voice in the state's peak advisory body," says Minister Nelson-Carr.
"The councils have served local communities well over the years - I look forward to working with new members to continue to promote equity and fairness for all."
Paul Larcombe says the council is very well linked into the community and cites the upgrade of bus stops in regional Queensland as an example, not just within the parameters of Disability Services Queensland, but across government.
As part of recent federal legislation changes, 25 per cent of bus stops required an upgrade to become more accessible for people with a disability. "We talked sector-wide to find out what people needed in an accessible bus stop and which bus stops were a priority,'' Paul says. "It was a very targeted project, very specific, that ended up with real results.''
This year the Disability Council of Queensland has advised on significant projects including the legislation to amend the Disability Services Act 2006.
Last updated February 2009