The New Zealand Disability Strategy is the first government strategy to address the needs of people with disabilities on a cross-sectoral basis. The 10 key government agencies most involved in developing the strategy drew up implementation work plans for 2001/2002. These agencies are:

• Ministry of Education,
• Ministry of Health,
• Ministry of Justice,
• Department of Labour,
• Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs,
• Ministry of Social Development,
• State Services Commission,
• Te Puni Kokiri,
• Ministry of Transport, and
• Ministry of Womens Affairs.

The Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) and Specialist Education Services (SES) also contributed to the development of the strategy and to the implementation work plans, through agencies to which they are linked (ACC worked with the Department of Labour, and SES with the Ministry of Education).

From 2002/2003, all government agencies are expected to develop and report against annual implementation plans. Overarching reviews of progress will also be undertaken after five and 10 years.

In order to objectively measure progress in achieving the strategys objectives, a long-term monitoring framework is being developed.

Implementation work plans for 2001/2002

When the New Zealand Disability Strategy was launched on 30 April 2001, government departments had already prepared their annual budgets and overarching work plans for the year. For this reason, the focus of work plans to implement the strategy in 2001/2002 has been on extending or enhancing work that departments already planned to do, within existing financial baselines.

The Ministry of Healths Disability Issues Directorate is currently responsible for coordinating the implementation work plan process on behalf of the Minister for Disability Issues. The Ministry consulted with other key departments to develop a work plan template. Agencies were encouraged to target their work plans to:

• identify short-term and achievable projects, as well as steps towards larger, long-term projects,
• approach the strategy at corporate, policy and service-delivery levels, and
• consider generic government activities (such as developing an accessible website), work unique to each department, and intersectoral work, identifying which department would take a leading role.

Work plans also had to take account of:

• the departments assessment of the relative priority of the objectives of the strategy, including intersectoral priorities,
• work that is needed as a matter or urgency or logistical necessity,
• work under way which aligns with the strategys vision, objectives and actions, and
• the NZ Disability Strategy sector reference groups set of proposals for the strategy, put forward to the government in late 2000.

The government approved the work plans of the 10 key agencies. Their work plans can be found on this website, or by contacting the Office for Disability Issues.