Disability Advisory Committee

Terms of Reference

Membership And Composition

The Disability Advisory Committee will comprise one Councillor and up to twelve community members.
Community members will be appointed through a transparent public advertising process determined by Council.

The committee may co-opt other members from time to time to assist;

In the consideration of specialised, sensitive or complex issues; With integrating access and inclusion principles and issues into other areas of Council and community activity; To convene specific based forums as required; and In establishing expert panels where required

As far as practicable the composition of the committee will reflect the widest access and inclusion perspectives of people with physical, sensory and emotional disabilities as well as the perspectives of carers, families and others.

Term Of Appointment

The Disability Advisory Committee will be constituted for a three - year term. In order to ensure continuity, one third of the membership will turn over every twelve months

Where a membership lapses, a replacement community member will be appointed through the usual public advertising process. where it is efficacious to do so.

The Disability Advisory Committee will be flexible with regards to multiple non attendances by members acknowledging the health and support needs associated with active citizen participation.

Guiding Principle

Improving the quality of life of people with disabilities requires the collaboration and partnership that reflects a whole of Council / whole of community/ whole of Governments approach.

The Disability Advisory Committee will therefore be required to;

(a) Provide advice and guidance at both a strategic and operational level; and
(b) Ensure that disability issues are integrated into the core business of Council.

Relationship With Other Advisory And Planning Committees

Access and inclusion issues are at the core of most public policy and public activity and need to be integrated into the core of all council business.

As all community committees of Council have an Advisory status, there is no formal relationship required or necessary between the Disability Advisory Committee and other advisory structures.

The Disability Advisory Committee, will through the representation with other advisory and planning structures to ensure improve the integration of disability issues into the core business of Council.

Any cross representation will be strategic and resource and influence effective to ensure that this increased work -load is sustainable.

Also the Disability Advisory Committee will increase its profile and influence by providing formal input and advice to all of Council's strategic plans and other key documents.

Reports To And From Committees

The Disability Advisory Committee will present to Council through the Planning and Community Development Committee;

1. A progress report on the Disability Action Plan every six months; and
2. An annual report on the activities of the Disability Advisory Committee.

The Planning and Community Development Committee and the Finances and Resources Committee may also refer reports and other relevant documents to the Disability Advisory Committee.

The Disability Advisory Committee may from time to time prepare a report or discussion paper that will be referred to a range of Council and community forums advisory structures for their input and feedback.

Committee Agendas

Members of the Disability Advisory Committee are encouraged to shape and influence the agenda. To this end however agenda items and associated documentation needs to be prepared for distribution two weeks prior to the meeting.

Chairperson

The Councillor representative shall be the Chairperson. The Chairperson will act as the public face of the committee and will present advice and reports to the Council and other bodies on behalf of the committee. The Chairperson will also represent the views of the committee to the media if required.

Purpose

• The Disability Advisory Committee shall provide advice and support regarding the following matters
• Provide a forum for the discussion on contemporary issues affecting the well being of people with disabilities and their carers
• Respond to and provide advice to any proposed strategies programs services and initiatives developed by all levels of Government and Non Government Organisations to respond to access and inclusion issues
• Advise and support community development initiatives across the City of Yarra
• Systemic advocacy issues
• Integrate disability principles and best practice in to the core activities of council
• Strategic and operational issues
• To receive, respond to and provide information on the performance and directions of Councils disability services through the analysis of data, public policy and other information from service providers, peak bodies, other levels of Government and the general community.
• Oversee and guide the development and review of Council's Disability Policy
• Oversee and guide the development and review of Council's Disability action Plan, and monitor its implementation.
• Initiate and respond to the integration of cross- organisational, cross program and cross agency disability issues.
• Provide specialist expertise to Yarra City Council including priorities for the Disability Action plan and Council's annual capital works program and operational program.

Decision Making

The Disability Advisory Committee is not a decision making body and does not require voting protocols or other decision making mechanisms.
As far as practicable the Disability Advisory Committee will provide advice based on the collective wisdom of the committee and the best available information provided by Council Officers.
Any formal advice provided by the Committee will be reached by consensus.
However, as the Disability Advisory Group is not a decision making body a diversity of differing views may be expressed by the Committee from time to time.
These views will be reflected in any reports, and statements issued by the committee.

Meeting Times

• Meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of every month.
• Meetings will last for one and a half hours.

Support For Meeting Attendance

Funding is available if members of the committee who require attendant care, transport, carer support or an interpreter service.

Support For The Committee

Councils Human Services Planner will be responsible for the overall support for the Disability Advisory Committee.

However a range of Council Officers will be responsible for the overall carriage of the access and inclusion activities of Council and those activities that may be generated by the committee.

A range of Council officers may be required to provide the committee advice and information and participate in the conduct of the Committee meetings from time to time.

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Further information

Senior Governance Officer
Richmond Town Hall
333 Bridge Road Richmond
Telephone 9205 5555 - 9205 5128
Email info@yarracity.vic.gov.au

Links

Within this site
Yarra City Councl

External sites (Yarra City Council accepts no responsibility for the information or opinions contained within external sites)
Victoria Online

Information supplied by: Electronic communications & design officer - 9205 5214

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