In our Disability Inclusion Action Plan (PDF 5.4Mb) we promise to ensure people with disability:
- are treated with dignity and respect
- can make full use of their individual capabilities
- are consulted about workplace adjustments they need
- have rights to privacy, confidentiality and choices about their personal information
- work in environments free from all forms of discrimination and harassment
Some of the areas we are embedding accessibility into our work include:
- Housing – affordable accessible social housing
- Property – making our workplaces accessible
- Open Spaces – making playgrounds so everyone can play
- Environment – national parks walking tracks and facilities
- Planning – making the built environment accessible
Our commitment
The Disability Inclusion Action Plan is our commitment to include people with disability as employees, customers and part of our communities. Our calls to action are the foundations on which we will create clear and measurable progress as we make the department a great place to work for everyone and build a platform that lets us best service all citizens of NSW.
- Focus area 1: Attitudes and behaviours
- Focus area 2: Inclusive employment
- Focus area 3: Accessible systems and processes
- Focus area 4: Liveable communities
Develop positive attitudes and improve inclusion for people with disability by increasing disability awareness and education programs.
Have 5.6% of roles held by people with disability by 2025, with the department becoming an employer of choice for people with disability
Identify and remove barriers caused by our systems and processes that hinder access by staff and users with disability.
Ensure our departmental buildings and facilities are accessible and inclusive for all people who access them.
Celebrating International Day of People with Disability
Our Sydney teams marked International Day of People with Disability with a special panel discussion featuring three speakers reflecting on their unique experiences of disability. We're committed to becoming an employer of choice for people with disability and growing a diverse and inclusive workforce that celebrates difference.
Support for our people with disability
We are working with our people with disability so we can remove barriers and make our workplace inclusive and accessible. We want all our people to be able to fully participate in the workplace so they can achieve their career goals.
The following programs and initiatives support our people with disability in the workplace:
Workplace adjustments
All employees working in the department can request a workplace adjustment.
A workplace adjustment is a change to process, procedure or environment that enables people with disability to participate fully in all aspects of employment, have equal access to opportunities for career development and be safe in the workplace.
Our Workplace Adjustment Guideline outlines how a person with disability, or their manager, can apply and obtain a workplace adjustment at any time during their employment.
Our Workplace Adjustment Passport is a confidential record of what workplace adjustments have been agreed. This record means our people only have to tell us once, and their workplace adjustment will continue when they change roles, teams or managers.
Disability Employee Network
The Disability Employee Network (DEN) is a safe place for people with disability and carers to provide peer to peer support, provide feedback on the barriers people with disability experience in the workplace and promote disability awareness throughout the department.
Wellbeing Ambassador Support Program
The Wellbeing Ambassador Program is a voluntary peer support program.
This program is designed to raise awareness of mental health concerns and mental health support services. The program provides training to employees on the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), common mental health concerns and the role of the Wellbeing Ambassador in confidently referring people to professional support, including the EAP.
Employee Assistance Program
The department supports staff and their families by providing an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAP is a confidential short-term, solutions focused counselling service.
The aim of the program is to provide support and empower workers and members of their families through a variety of best practice counselling approaches and frameworks, to assist in resolving personal and work-based issues.
Accessible premises
We strive to ensure our people, visitors and customers are able to access our premises in a safe, equitable and dignified way. See our Connected Workplaces for more information about our various premises.
If you have disability and require assistance to apply or more information about workplace adjustments or support in the workplace, contact the Diversity team: Diversity@DPIE.nsw.gov.au or phone (02) 8289 6740.
The Department of Planning and Environment is now Disability Confident Recruiter Accredited. For the disability community, this means we have a recruitment process that's accessible. People with disability can apply for our jobs without experiencing barriers. We’re committed to being an employer of choice for the people of NSW We’re committed to being an employer of choice for the people of NSW.
For additional information and requests on adjustments please contact the Diversity and Inclusion team at diversity@dpie.nsw.gov.au