Sport and Recreation New Zealand (SPARC Ihi Aotearoa)

Introduction

SPARC’s role

SPARC was established under the Sport and Recreation New Zealand Act 2002.

SPARC’s vision for New Zealand is:

• to be the most active nation;
• to be winning consistently in events that matter to New Zealand;
• by having the most effective sport and physical recreation systems.

SPARC works with other government departments and agencies to ensure they understand the potential that sport and physical recreation offers as a means to achieve their objectives and outcomes. SPARC also assists them to engage with the sport and physical recreation sector to achieve their objectives and outcomes.

SPARC provides leadership in research and the development and implementation of evidence-based policies that recognise the importance of sport and physical recreation to New Zealand.

SPARC’s functions are set out in section 8 of the Sport and Recreation New Zealand Act 2002. In a general sense SPARC has been charged with improving the wellbeing of New Zealanders through sport and physical recreation – this includes the physical, mental, social, cultural, environmental and economic benefits offered by participation in sport and physical recreation. SPARC’s functions under the Act that are of relevance to disabled people include:

• working with health, education, and other agencies to promote greater participation in physical recreation and sport through policy development, advocacy, and support, in line with the objectives of the New Zealand health strategy;
• promoting and advocating the importance of participation in physical recreation by all New Zealanders for their health and well-being;
• encouraging participation in physical recreation and sport by Pacific peoples, women, older New Zealanders, and people with disabilities;
• recognising the role of physical recreation and sport in the rehabilitation of people with disabilities; and
• working with schools, regional, central, and local government, and physical recreation and sports organisations to ensure the maintenance and development of the physical and organisational infrastructure for physical recreation and sport.

No Exceptions Strategy

SPARC developed the No Exceptions Strategy and Implementation Plan 2005-2009 in 2005 to address sport and physical recreation issues for disabled people.

SPARC research indicates that disabled people have a lower participation rate in sport and physical recreation than the overall population. There is also evidence to suggest that disabled people face a number of barriers to participation in sport and recreation that result in restricted physical activity choices.

The vision of No Exceptions is for disabled people to have, on an equal basis with others, the same sport and recreation opportunities. In order to achieve this vision, SPARC is partnering with a number of key organisations to enable the sport and recreation sector to take shared responsibility for implementation. SPARC sees the ability of sport and recreation providers to deliver on No Exceptions as integral to the development of sector capacity.

SPARC’s commitment to No Exceptions is a response to the New Zealand Disability Strategy, principally Objective 9. SPARC’s intention to align itself with the New Zealand Disability Strategy is also reflected in a number of organisational initiatives aimed at increasing its responsiveness to disabled people, and to have that responsiveness informed, guided and led by disabled people.

Level 1 Activities: Universal responsiveness to disability issues

 

Accessible government information		Achieved / available	Planned this year	N/A
Agency’s websites
	Meet e-government Web-Guidelines 2.1	Yes
	Tested for accessibility for disabled people		Yes
	Adapted to increase accessibility to disabled people		Yes
	Downloadable files available in HTML, not only PDF	Yes
Other publications and public information available in alternative formats. (eg key information available in easy-to-read English, Braille, NZSL video clips, captions on TV adverts, etc) (In your end of year report you will be asked to list the formats you have available)			Yes
Agency makes available alternative forms of contact (ie phone and fax numbers, email addresses, etc)		Yes

Accessible government buildings and sites		Achieved / available	Planned this year	N/A
All agency’s buildings and sites meet statutory and regulatory access requirements (eg NZS 4121)		Yes
Agency’s buildings and sites have Building Code compliance certification		Yes
Agency’s buildings and sites audited for accessibility by Barrier Free NZ Trust				Yes
Agency’s buildings and sites accessible.
	Frontline staff receive training in disability responsiveness		Yes
	Reception areas accessible	Yes
	Counters lowered for wheelchair users			Yes
	Telephone staff familiar with using NZ Relay service1		Yes
	Other accommodations (please list) (eg signage, accessible lifts, hearing loops, etc)

Accessible government services	Achieved / available	Planned this year	N/A
Service policies and procedures include reference to disability issues (eg policies on the use of New Zealand Sign Language Interpreters)		Yes
Information / data on services provided to disabled people is recorded	Yes
Service staff receive disability responsiveness training		Yes
When contracting for new or up-graded IT applications and environments, contracts include a requirement to ensure accessibility by disabled users		Yes

Responsive government employment practices		Achieved / available	Planned this year	N/A
Human Resource policies and procedures include EEO issues for disabled people			Yes
Recruitment and selection of vacancies responsive to disabled people (eg vacancies advertised to the widest possible audience, vacancies list alternative forms of contact – phone, fax, email, etc)			Yes
Human Resource staff familiar with EEO issues for disabled people (eg staff receive disability responsiveness training, staff familiar with the Disability Perspective Tool Kit2, etc)			Yes
Disabled staff are supported
	Individual assessments of workplace accommodations or support are provided (eg work station assessments)	Yes
	Accommodations provided to disabled staff (eg work station adaptations, special equipment, New Zealand Sign Language interpreters, etc are provided)	Yes
	Disabled staff provided with opportunities for career advancement		Yes
	Agency supports a disabled staff network group			Yes
	Internal agency newsletters promote the positive presence of disabled staff people	Yes
	Other support provided to disabled staff (please list)	Job support for travel paid for by SPARC

Information and data on disabled people is collected		Achieved / available	Planned this year	N/A
Information on agency’s responsiveness to disabled staff people
	Number of disabled people employed (we recommend you use the State Service Commission’s EEO disability information)		Yes
	Data on disability related accommodations, adaptive equipment, etc, provided by your agency		Yes
	Number of disabled people employed under the State Service Commission’s ‘Mainstream programme’3.		Yes
Information on agency’s responsiveness to the disabled public
	Information and data on agency’s contact with the disabled public is recorded (eg consultation with disabled groups)		Yes
	Information / data on agency’s disabled client group recorded	Yes

Level 2 Activities: Disability perspective included in ordinay work

 

Disability responsiveness training and resources	Planned this year	N/A
Disability responsiveness training offered to all staff (Where training is provided your end of year report should indicate who gave the training, when it was given, and how many staff and what kind of staff attended)	Yes
Promotion of the Disability Perspective Tool Kit4 within your agency (eg this website resource distributed to policy and strategic personnel, receiving training or advice on the use of this resource, etc) (Where known, your end of year report should indicate any training or advice received on the use of this resource, who gave the training and who attended)	Yes
Other (please indicate)

Disability perspective included in ordinary work		Planned this year	N/A
Key documents to incorporate a disability perspective (In your end of year report you will be asked to indicate key papers or examples of where a disability perspective was included in your agency’s ordinary work)
	Cabinet papers
	Policy and procedure papers
	Strategic documents (eg Statement of Intent, Managing for Outcomes and key strategies)	Yes
	Legislation
	Consultation with disabled people/groups	Yes
	Other (please indicate)

Implementing the NZ Disability Strategy beyond your agency	Planned this year	N/A
Agencies, Crown Entities, boards, reference groups, etc, that your agency is responsible for are encouraged to consider disabled people and disability issues (eg staff / membership supports the inclusion of disabled people, compliance with level 1 activities is encouraged, your agency’s purchase agreements require compliance with the Disability Strategy, and where appropriate requires the provision of any data/information on disability issues/disabled clients)	Yes
Other (please indicate)

Level 3 Activities: key Disability focused work your agency is leading

 This section provides space for you to set out your agency’s activities involving key disability-focused work. Please include in this section any activities your agency is planning for this year, to implement the New Zealand Sign Language Bill/Act, the “To Have an Ordinary Life” report, and/or the Human Rights Action Plan.

1. No Exceptions National Advisory Group

Description

The purpose of the advisory group is to guide and inform SPARC on the implementation of the No Exceptions Strategy, including feedback on its impact on sport and recreation opportunities for disabled people.

The advisory group is predominantly comprised of disabled people, representing a combination of impairment and sporting experience. It will meet the support needs of all participants, including the use of Sign Language Interpreters, and will appropriately remunerate participants .

Desired Outcome

By guiding and informing SPARC on effective implementation, SPARC will be better able to facilitate sector responsibility for No Exceptions, thereby creating more sport and recreation opportunities for disabled people.

Outcome measures and timeframes

The No Exceptions Advisory Group will meet four times a year, and will provide tim ely and relevant advice to the SPARC Senior Advisor – Disabilities.

Links to Strategy objective and action

Objectives 9 and 5

2. Purchasing the rights to use/modify the Australian Sports Commission Disability Education Programme

Description

The Disability Education Programme (DEP) is an initiative developed by the Disability Sports Unit (DSU) of the Australian Sports Commission (ASC). It is a modular training programme that targets teachers, coaches and club officials. The training promotes increased awareness of disability issues and responsiveness to disabled people in educational, sporting and recreational settings.

SPARC is currently negotiating with the ASC over purchase rights to what will be a repackaged New Zealand version of the DEP. In conjunction with the Halberg Trust Sporting Opportunity Programme, SPARC will oversee the delivery of comprehensive disability responsiveness training tailor made for sport and recreation providers.

Desired Outcome

Better informed teachers, coaches and club officials offering increased opportunities to disabled people for participation in sport and physical recreation.

Outcome measures and timeframes

500 participants trained by June 2007

Links to Strategy objective and action

Objective 9

3. Stock-take of territorial authority recreation facilities and programmes in the Auckland region

Description

As part of the SPARC led Auckland Regional Physical Activity and Sports Strategy (ARPASS), the territorial authorities in the region have committed themselves to undertake a comprehensive ‘access audit’ of their recreation facilities (wet and dry). The audit will be conducted in conjunction with the Barrier Free Trust and Halberg Trust, and encompasses both facilities (physical access) and programme services (attitudinal and practice).

The information gained will be translated into a programme of action to achieve full access within an agreed timeframe.

Desired Outcome

By identifying accessibility requirements, and committing to a timeframe for implementation audit recommendations, territorial authorities will have facilities and programmes accessible to disabled people. As an example of best practice, the ARPASS initiative will create a template for other TAS to follow.

Outcome measures and timeframes

The access audit will be completed by June 2007.

Links to Strategy objective and action

Objective 9

4. National Sporting Organisations and National Recreation Organisations No Exceptions Leadership Project

Description

This project involves National Sports Organisations (NSOs) and National Recreation Organisations (NROs). The purpose of the No Exceptions Leadership Project is to get NSOs and NROs planning for inclusion of disability issues within their strategic and operational plans.

The project will be rolled out over the next three years, and will have 15 NSOs and NROs on board by June 2007.

Desired Outcome

15 NSOs and NROs championing No Exceptions, and implementing it within their organisations.

Outcome measures and timeframes

15 NSOs and NROs to have disability planning integrated into their strategic and operational plans by June 2007.

Links to Strategy objective and action

Objective 9