Policy Submission: Stronger Outcomes For Families

Download a pdf of the policy submission here.

If you have any issue accessing this document please let us know and we will try our best to resolve the issue. You can reach us on 08 8373 8333 or admin@purpleorange.org.au

JFA Purple Orange made this policy submission in 2018 to The Department of Social Services (DSS) about getting stronger outcomes for families. 

Summary and recommendations

While most Australian families are cohesive and their children have the opportunity to thrive, there are still many Australian families that experience poor outcomes, despite governments investing heavily in services for this group. Looking at different ways to invest this money to drive better outcomes is a step in the right direction, however it is essential that the focus of this reform is about making a stronger impact, not just system efficiencies. We have focussed our comments on people living with disability, and in light of this, make the following recommendations:

Recommendation 1

Universal design principles should be incorporated into the future design of programs for families and children across Australia.

Recommendation 2

People living with disability and their families should be involved in the design of programs for families and children through co-design processes.

Recommendation 3

Organisations funded to deliver programs for families and children should be required to ensure that these programs are inclusive of people living with disability. The government should work with the disability sector, including people living with disability, to determine how to achieve this.

Recommendation 4

Organisations delivering families and children services should be required to comply with mandatory accessibility requirements and adherence to this needs to be monitored. Recommendation 5 Future programs for families and children need to work alongside the NDIS information, linkages and capacity building resources, including LACs.