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Disability service plan 2020 (incorporating responses to COVID-19)
All Abilities Queensland: opportunities for all
Department of Youth Justice: Disability service plan 2020
About the planAll Abilities Queensland: opportunities for allThe Queensland Government is building an inclusive Queensland where every person can thrive and reach their full potential as equals.
All Abilities Queensland: opportunities for all is the state disability plan for 2017–2020. It builds on progress already made and guides how Queenslanders can work in partnership with Commonwealth and local governments, the corporate sector, non-government and community organisations, communities and individuals, to provide opportunities for all. The plan outlines five priorities:
communities for all lifelong learning employment everyday services leadership and participation.
All Abilities Queensland has been designed to complement the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and aligns with the final years of the National Disability Strategy 2010–2020.
Disability service plans 2017–2020Under the Disability Services Act 2006 (Qld), each Queensland Government department is required to develop a disability service plan that outlines actions they will take to progress the five priorities of All Abilities Queensland: opportunities for all.
Our departmentThe Department of Youth Justice was established as a result of machinery-of-government changes effective 20 May 2019. Prior to this,
disability related actions in youth justice were part of the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women’s disability service plan.
Our department's vision is for Queenslanders to be safe from youth crime. We work together with young people, families, communities and government to change the life story for young people at risk and those in the youth justice system.
Our inaugural strategic plan 2019-2023 provides strong vision and purpose, clear objectives and strategies and demonstrates how we contribute to Advancing Queensland's Priorities.
Our disability service planYoung people with a physical or cognitive disability are a group of significant concern in the youth justice system. Unsupported or unidentified disability may be an underlying factor in a pattern of offending behaviour and early assessment and diagnosis is important in order to identify the needs of the young people and link them to support. Data from 2017-18 reveal 17% of children and young people in the youth justice system had a disability diagnosed or suspected.
Our Disability service plan 2020 demonstrates how we will work with our partners to build a fairer, more inclusive Queensland where children and young people with disability, their families and carers are able to access the same opportunities, on the same basis as everyone else.
The plan supports the strategic direction of All Abilities Queensland: opportunities for all, which will deliver on Queensland’s commitments under the National Disability Strategy 2010-2020 and the NDIS.
In June 2020 we reviewed and updated our plan, including to reflect the department’s response and recovery to COVID-19. The review considered priorities in the government’s COVID-19 All Abilities Plan 2020-21, with a
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Department of Youth Justice: Disability service plan 2020
particular focus service continuity, engagement and communication. It is proposed to review the plan again in 2021
Communities for allChanging attitudes and breaking down barriers by raising awareness and capability
Action Responsibility
Timeframe
Action success measure
Work with DCDSS to support national communication strategies and activities to promote the National Disability Strategy 2010–2020.
Whole-of-government (DCDSS lead)
2020 Participate in and contribute to national communication strategies and activities, as required.
Queensland Government Ministers act as champions with business, industry and organisational partners within their portfolio to raise awareness of disability and build partnerships and opportunities.
Whole-of-government (DCDSS lead)
2020 Support the Minister to raise awareness
Work with DCDSS to investigate and develop options to provide disability awareness training to all staff and to incorporate disability awareness training into induction programs.
Whole-of-government (DCDSS lead)
2020 Disability awareness training programs are provided to staff.
Work with DCDSS to encourage local governments, non-government organisations and businesses to develop disability access and inclusion plans and use processes to engage with people with disability in the design and delivery of services.
Whole-of-government (DCDSS lead)
2020 Promote disability access and inclusion to stakeholders
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Department of Youth Justice: Disability service plan 2020
Accessible places and spaces
Action Responsibility
Timeframe
Action success measure
Work with DCDSS and others to ensure access for people with disability is improved by considering the needs of people with disability when buildings and venues used by DYJ are refurbished or leases renewed, and where possible in choosing venues for DYJ run events and meetings.
Whole-of-government (DCDSS lead)
2020 Guidance provided to staff about how to choose an accessible venue for an event or meeting.
The needs of people with disability are considered when buildings and accommodation are constructed, refurbished or leases renewed.
Accessible information
Action Responsibility
Timeframe
Action success measure
Work with DCDSS to ensure all Queensland Government information is accessible and provided in multiple formats.
Whole-of-government (DCDSS lead)
2020 All new key DYJ information/materials are provided in accessible formats.
Existing content progressively reviewed and updated.
Government policies require Queensland Government websites to meet contemporary web content accessibility guidelines. Work continues to be undertaken to provide transcripts and captions for newly created time-based media (i.e. pre-recorded video/audio).
Whole-of-government (DHPW support)
2020 All new key DYJ website content is accessible and complies with guidelines.
Increase staff awareness of services that are available for people with disability (e.g. electronic interpreting services for people who are deaf or hearing impaired).
DYJ 2020 Develop and distribute a staff communique to increase awareness of services available for people with disability.
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Department of Youth Justice: Disability service plan 2020
Welcoming and inclusive communities
Action Responsibility
Timeframe
Action success measure
Build organisational capacity to understand and assist people with disability, their families and carers to engage with DYJ
DYJ 2020 (ongoing) Develop awareness resources that assist staff support young people with disability and their families.
Develop tools and resources to accurately identify and quantify the young people in the youth justice system, and their needs.
Respecting and promoting the rights of people with disability and recognising diversity
Action Responsibility
Timeframe
Action success measure
Work towards ensuring all legislation, policies and programs are consistent with national commitments under international conventions, consider the needs or interests of people with disability and carers and promote and uphold the human rights of people with disability.
Whole-of-government (DCDSS lead)
2020 New legislation, policies and programs developed by DYJ demonstrate consideration of the needs of people with disability.
Human Rights Act 2019 implemented in DYJ.
Government services and funded non-government services provide access to language, translating and communication services.
Whole-of-government (DLGRMA lead)
2020 Information is available to all staff about how to access translator and interpreter services.
DYJ enables access to language, translating and interpreting services for funded NGOs.
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Department of Youth Justice: Disability service plan 2020
Annual review of the department’s complaints management policy and procedure to ensure that it is inclusive, and protects the rights of people with disability.
DYJ 2020 Complaints management policy and procedure are inclusive, and protect human rights.
Safe, healthy and respectful relationships
Action Responsibility
Timeframe
Action success measure
Implement awareness strategies in the workplace in relation to mental health and stress
DYJ 2020 (ongoing)
All staff have easy access to information about workplace health and safety including psychological health
Lifelong learningTertiary and vocational education
Action Responsibility
Timeframe
Action success measure
Ensure internal training programs provided by the department consider the requirements of staff with disability.
DYJ 2020 (ongoing)
The department’s internal training programs incorporate the requirements of staff with disability.
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Department of Youth Justice: Disability service plan 2020
EmploymentLeading the way – increasing opportunities in the Queensland public sector
Action Responsibility
Timeframe
Action Success Measure
Implement strategies to reach the government’s target that, by 2022, 8% of the Queensland public sector workforce will be people with disability, across attraction, recruitment, retention and career progression and development, for example flexible work practices and inclusion of people with disability in the government employer brand.
Whole-of-government (PSC lead)
2020 (ongoing)
Diversity strategies are included in DYJ workforce plan to contribute to the proportion of people with disability employed in the Queensland public sector workforce increase towards 8% by 2022.
Annually review the department’s attraction and retention, and recruitment and selection policies, and make adjustments as required, to ensure equal opportunity for people with disability.
DYJ 2020 (ongoing)
The department’s attraction, retention, recruitment and selection policies ensure equal opportunity for people with disability.
Provide services and advice to supervisors of employees with disability as required, to ensure reasonable adjustment in the department’s workplaces for employees with disability.
DYJ 2020 (ongoing)
Services and advice provided to supervisors of employees with disability, as required.
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Department of Youth Justice: Disability service plan 2020
Everyday servicesDisability and community supports
Action Responsibility
Timeframe
Action success measure
Work with the National Disability Insurance Agency to provide a smooth transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Whole-of-government (DCDSS lead)
2020 DYJ works with the NDIS and NGOs to ensure all eligible children and young people can access ‘reasonable and necessary’ disability supports.
Ensure services in detention centres are suitable for young people with disability
DYJ 2020 (ongoing)
Speech and language pathologists employed at each youth detention centre.
Behaviour support team have the clinical capacity to provide assessments that are relevant to the identification and diagnosis of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD).
Ensure services delivered to young people on supervised community orders are suitable for young people with disability.
DYJ Ongoing Young people on supervised community orders have access to speech and language pathologists, and other specialist disability services.
Young people who are not fit to plead due to disability are identified and diverted from the criminal justice system.
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Department of Youth Justice: Disability service plan 2020
Building cultural capability
Action Responsibility
Timeframe
Action success measure
Continue to improve departmental cultural capability to support Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people with disability.
DYJ 2020 Strategies regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability included in the DYJ diversity and inclusion strategy.
Detention centre cultural units provide tailored responses to the discrete vulnerabilities of First Nations young peoples with disability.
Justice and community safety
Action Responsibility
Timeframe
Action success measure
Provide a cohesive, informed and quality response to young people with disability involved in the youth justice system
DYJ 2020 Policies and procedures reflect contemporary good practice.
Referral pathways for young people with disability involved with youth justice are timely and appropriate.
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Department of Youth Justice: Disability service plan 2020
Leadership and participationInclusion in consultation, civic participation and decision making and supporting leadership development
Action Responsibility
Timeframe
Action Success Measure
Work with DCDSS to ensure consultation and engagement processes are offered in a range of ways, including the use of technology, which maximise the participation opportunities for people with disability their families and carers.
Whole-of-government (DCDSS lead)
2020 Options for engagement by people with disability and their families and carers are promoted, including the use of technology.
Queensland government agencies consult with people with disability when either developing a disability service plan or implementing disability service plan actions.
Whole-of-government (DCDSS lead)
2020 The needs of people with disability are considered when implementing and reviewing the DYJ disability service plan.
Work with DCDSS to ensure any DYJ leadership programs are accessible and inclusive of Queenslanders with disability.
Whole-of-government (DCDSS lead)
2020 DYJ leadership programs are inclusive of, and accessible to people with disability.
Response to COVID-19 The department’s priority during COVID-19 has continued to be the safety and wellbeing of young people in both youth detention and community settings, and all staff.
In the department’s two youth detention centres maintaining as close to ‘business as usual’ operations has been critical to ensure young people continue to move around the centres, mix with peers and attend school, programs and activities. Business continuity plans have been developed by both centres in close liaison with Queensland Health, the Queensland Police Service, the Department of Education and the Department of Housing and Public Works and provide a clear framework to promote and protect the safety and wellbeing of young people and staff throughout this crisis. These plans will continue to evolve in accordance with the advice of Queensland’s Chief Health Officer.
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Department of Youth Justice: Disability service plan 2020
Both youth detention centres have implemented the following universal precautions:
increased cleaning and sanitisation of all high traffic areas availability of hand sanitiser and anti-bacterial wipes for staff and young people accessibility of personal protective equipment for staff regular communication and online training to staff about universal health precautions, infection control fundamentals and personal hygiene temperature screening of all staff on arrival plus regular reminders not to attend work if they feel even slightly unwell, and where possible, staff adhere to the social distancing advice while performing duties and role model this with young people (e.g. no hand-shaking, high
fives & etc).
Both youth detention centres have been able to maintain almost ‘business as usual’ processes (with the key exception of face-to-face personal visits) and there has been no impact on the services and supports available to young people who have a disability or developmental need. This is predominantly because most of the support staff are employed at the centre, either as part of the DYJ client services teams (i.e. casework and behaviour support teams) or at the onsite health service (inclusive of primary and mental health services).
Business continuity has also been a priority in service centres throughout the state to ensure young people receive the service and supports they need. The department’s recently released Youth Justice Framework for Practice Foundations reiterates the importance of responsivity to needs, including to culture, gender, developmental stage, capacity and abilities.
Throughout COVID-19 staff have been supported to think creatively about how to deliver services while meeting physical distancing requirements. Adjustments have been made to ensure the continuation of group-based and face-to face services e.g. restorative justice and Transition to Success, as well as one-on-one services, with responsivity to a young person’s needs at the centre of decision making.
Service continuity
Action Responsibility
Timeframe
Action success measure
Crisis management planning and business continuity planning responds to the needs of vulnerable young people, including to young people with disability.
DYJ 2020 Critical and core services identified and service delivery responses progressed with partner organisations, including Education, Health, QPS, Courts and funded NGOs.
Youth detention centres and service
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Department of Youth Justice: Disability service plan 2020
Action Responsibility
Timeframe
Action success measure
centres maintain as close to ‘business as usual’ with adjustments where required e.g. additional precautions for admissions; social distancing incorporated program and services.
Communication and engagement
Action Responsibility
Timeframe
Action success measure
Consultation and engagement processes are offered in a range of ways, including the use of technology, which maximise the participation opportunities for people with disability their families and carers.
DYJ 2020 Alternative arrangements implemented where face-to-face is not possible, e.g. use of video and phone contact due to visits being ceased.
Engage with Queensland Mental Health Commission and other relevant partners to develop supports for staff during COVID-19.
DYJ 2020 Resources available to all staff to maximise health and wellbeing during COVID-19
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Department of Youth Justice: Disability service plan 2020
Contact for more informationFor further information or to provide feedbackTelephone: 13 QGOV (13 74 68)*
Email: [email protected]
Hearing impaired assistancePlease contact us through the National Relay Service:
TTY users, phone 133 677 (no additional call charges apply). Speak-and-listen (speech-to-speech relay) users,
phone 1300 555 727. Internet relay users, connect to the National Relay Service. Video relay users, choose the available video relay contact on
Skype and ask for 13 QGOV (13 74 68). SMS relay users, phone 0423 677 767 and ask for
13 QGOV (13 74 68).
Interpreter assistanceContact the National Translator and Interpreter Service on 131 450.
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