Sport and Recreation New Zealand

1. Policy Development

Desired Outcomes

• A community that highly values full participation and achievement.
• Disabled people understand their rights and choices to participate actively and exercise these rights and choices.
• Government agencies, service providers and individuals are aware of the benefits of participation in recreation and sport.
• Disabled people are involved as leaders in carrying out the No Exceptions Implementation Plan.

Description

Work across SPARC to ensure effective implementation of the priority actions of the No Exceptions Strategy that identify SPARC as lead agency including:

• Be led, guided and informed by disabled people.
• Build accessibility for all into organisational frameworks.
• Up-skill staff and volunteers who provide physical recreation and sport services.
• Create supportive and accessible recreation and sport programmes that enable participation by disabled people at every level.
• Review Halberg Trust services to SPARC to better reflect the priority actions identified in No Exceptions.
• Implement the recommendations of the audit of SPARC’s policies, programmes and systems that identified gaps in support of the NZDS.
• Use the Disability Lens to monitor SPARC’s progress on implementing the New Zealand Disability Strategy (NZDS).

Measures and Timeframes

• Appoint a SPARC Senior Advisor Disabilities by 15 July 2005 to lead this work.
• Implement 2005/2006 priority actions in No Exceptions Implementation Plan in conjunction with key partners identified.
• Complete review of Halberg Trust services to SPARC by 30 March 2006.
• Use Disability Lens as a monitoring tool across SPARC on an ongoing basis.

Link to NZ Disability Strategy Objectives and Actions

Objective 9: Support lifestyle choices, recreation and culture for disabled people - Actions 9.3, 9.4.

2. Programme Investment

Desired outcomes

• Recreation and sport service organisations deliver services to all New Zealanders in an inclusive way.
• Disabled athletes have equitable access to all high performance sport services that meet their needs.
• Disabled people are given opportunities to participate in recreation and sport in a supportive environment.
• Disabled people are included in recreation and sport decision making processes.
• Investments are made that ensure that all New Zealanders have real opportunities to participate in recreation and sport.

Description

Provide investment support for the Halberg Trust Sport Opportunity programme through funding 17 Sport Opportunity Advisors based in regional sports trusts to work with disabled children and adults and encourage them to participate in physical activity and sport in schools and the community.

Work with identified National Sports Organisations to develop greater opportunities within those sports for disabled people through the development of disability action plans, high performance programmes and development and competition pathways.

Measures and Timeframes (2005-2006)

• 700 children involved through 64 interschool events.
• 1000 disabled people involved in events facilitated by regional sports trusts.
• 500 disabled people involved in community clubs and activities.
• 1000 people trained in clubs, schools and community facilities to deliver inclusive sport and active leisure for people with a disability.
• 51 Disability Action Plans developed at the regional level in conjunction with organisations such as YMCAs, sporting organisations and clubs and schools.
• Five National Sports Organisations identified as examples of best practice in developing inclusive plans for coaching, competition and participation.

Link to NZ Disability Strategy Objectives and Actions

Objective 9 Support lifestyle choices, recreation and culture for disabled people - Actions 9.3 and 9.4.

Objective 13 Enable disabled children and youth to live full and active lives - Action 13.5.

3. Information Sharing

Desired Outcomes

• SPARC information is accessible to disabled people.
• Disabled people are included in material disseminated to the wider sector.

Description

Conduct “E Government Watch” audit on new SPARC website for compliance with accessibility requirements to ensure current information about sport and physical recreation can be accessed by disabled people through the SPARC website and electronic newsletter.

Develop a communications and marketing strategy that incorporates a range of accessibility requirements including the use of disabled people in SPARC material where appropriate.

Measures and Timeframes

• E Government Watch audit conducted by 30 August 2005.
• Communications and marketing strategy draft for consultation developed by 30 October 2005.
• Recommendations from SPARC audit relating to internal and external communications actioned throughout 2005/2006.

Link to NZ Disability Strategy Objectives and Actions

Foster an aware and responsive public service – Action 6.5.

4. Employment

Desired Outcomes

• SPARC recognised as an EEO employer.
• SPARC is acknowledged as providing opportunities for employees to realise their goals and aspirations.
• SPARC is responsive to the needs of disabled people as employees.

Description

Provide opportunities for disabled people to gain employment at SPARC and be effective and valued staff members.

Senior Advisor Disabilities implements recommendations contained in SPARC audit and priority actions in No Exceptions Strategy relating to SPARC as the lead agency.

Measures and Timeframes

• Appointment of SPARC Senior Advisor Disabilities by 15 July 2005.

Link to NZ Disability Strategy Objectives and Actions

Objective 4 Provide opportunities in employment and economic development for disabled people - Actions 4.8, 4.9 and 4.10.

Objective 6 Foster an aware and responsive public service - Action 6.3.