Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Group
The CAHS Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Group (DAIAG) is responsible for providing advice and advocacy, from both a staff and consumer perspective, on disability access and inclusion issues across CAHS services.
DAIAG is one of several CAHS advisory groups whose membership includes people with disability, people with neurodivergence and, staff, parents and carers.
DAIAG members are also responsible for the monitoring of progress against the implementation of actions of the CAHS Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2022-2025 (DAIP).
The Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) is committed to ensuring that our services, facilities, employment and information is accessible to people with disability, their families and carers.
The key functions of the DAIAG include:
- Advocating for people with disability to have the same opportunities as other people to participate in initiatives, projects and services being planned, implemented and evaluated.
- Ensuring the voices of staff, young people with disability and their parents and carers are considered in creating an inclusive and accessible health service.
- Ensuring legislative and policy requirements related to people with disability being able to;
- Access the services of, and any events organised by, CAHS
- Access the buildings and other facilities of CAHS
- Receive information from CAHS in a format that will enable them to access the information as readily as other people are able to access it.
- Receive the same level and quality of service from CAHS staff as other people receive from CAHS staff
- Make complaints to CAHS
- Participate in any public consultation with CAHS
- Obtain and maintain employment with CAHS
- Providing insight and advice on disability access and inclusion issues raised at the DAIAG monthly meetings.
- Promoting the role of staff and consumers with disability and the value of their feedback.
- Participating in the planning and delivery of events to celebrate the diversity of consumers and staff.
People with disability bring more diverse ways of thinking, viewpoints, experiences, skills and talents. This diversity is important and valued at CAHS.
We encourage enquiries and expressions of interest from the CAHS workforce and consumers to join the CAHS DAIAG, so that we can work together in providing everyone at CAHS the same opportunities, rights and responsibilities enjoyed by all in the community.
What is diversity and inclusion?
Diversity encompasses both identity and lived experiences, including characteristics like race, ethnicity, gender, sex, gender identity, ability, socioeconomic status, nationality, citizenship, religion, sexual identity, and marital status (ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, lived experiences and neurological make-up).
Inclusion refers to the feeling of respect, value and acceptance surrounding diversity.
A diverse and inclusive organisation can improve our sense of belonging.
The strength of need can vary from person to person, but there is a near-universal desire for the workforce to feel genuinely welcome to participate, secure in their role, and connected to their colleagues.
For patients, families and carers this can feel like they are seen, respected, and valued within the healthcare system - regardless of their background, identity, or experiences.
Fostering belonging means that people of all backgrounds have a place at the table and feel heard, seen, and recognised for their contributions.