Department of Conservation - TE PAPA ATAWHAI

1. Link Between the New Zealand Disability Strategy and DOC’s Statement of Intent

About DOC

The Department of Conservation is the central government organisation charged with conserving the natural and historic heritage of New Zealand on behalf of and for the benefit of present and future New Zealanders.

DOC’s Vision

“New Zealand’s natural and historic heritage is protected; people enjoy it and are involved with the department in its conservation.”

Links Between the NZ Disability Strategy and DOC’s Statement of Intent

The Department has identified two Outcomes to fulfill its conservation responsibilities under the legislation and as directed by Government’s key goals:

1. Protection - New Zealand’s natural and historic heritage entrusted to the Department of Conservation is protected and restored.
2. Appreciation - People have opportunities to appreciate and benefit from their natural and historic heritage and are involved and connected with conservation.

The New Zealand Disability Strategy relates mainly to the Department’s second Outcome, which is directed at people appreciating and enjoying our natural and historic heritage and building support for conservation generally. In particular, the Disability Strategy’s objective of promoting access to recreational and cultural opportunities [Objective 9] is related to the Department of Conservation’s goal of Appreciation.

Underpinning the Department’s vision and outcomes is departmental capability. The Disability Strategy impacts on all three capability principles as defined in the Department’s Statement of Intent:

• Innovative and inclusive – using the skills and talent of a diverse workforce, helping others with their conservation work and seeking the help of others in our work, sharing knowledge, welcoming constructive criticism and learning from our mistakes.
• Maximising return on investment – having a productive and empowered workforce, managing assets effectively and efficiently, and acting with probity.
• Striving for excellence in all we do – acting with integrity and behaving ethically, continually seeking to improve organisational performance, and developing the resources required to achieve conservation underpinned by science.

The Department’s focus for 2005/2006 will be in the following area:

• Establishing an internal disability reference group.

2. Internal Disability Reference Group

Desired Outcomes

DOC’s internal reference group is actively providing advice on disability-related issues and promoting the disability strategy in the workplace.

DOC’s staff have increased awareness of disability issues.

Description

Continue the establishment of an internal disability reference group comprising interested key staff members and staff members with disabilities. The reference group is comprised of staff with disabilities, staff with an interest in disability issues and staff whose work influences the participation of the public in the appreciation of conservation or in staff participating fully in the workplace.

The reference group aims to increase the organisation’s knowledge of disability issues and to increase awareness of the disability perspective amongst staff.

The internal reference group will assume an advisory role for the drafting of future Disability Implementation Plans.

Measures and Timeframes

The reference group is generating ideas and supporting HR&O in the drafting of the 2006/2007 Disability Strategy Implementation Plan.

The reference group agrees on key actions and criteria to increase the organisations’ knowledge of disability issues by December 2005.

The reference group identifies key areas of the department’s work where services to the members of the public with disabilities can be improved and are providing advice on how these improvements may be made by February 2006

The reference group peer reviews Human Resources and Organisation initiatives to promote a workplace that is welcoming to people with disabilities on an ongoing basis.

Links to NZ Disability Strategy Objectives and Actions

Encourage and educate for a non-disabling society – Action 1.5

Foster an aware and responsive public service – Action 6.1

Support lifestyle choices, recreation and culture for disabled people - Action 9.4

Links to the Department of Conservation’s Statement of Intent

Departmental Outcome: People have opportunities to appreciate and benefit from their natural and historic heritage and are involved and connected with conservation.

Intermediate Outcome: People make significant contributions to conservation.

Intermediate Outcome: People support conservation.