A framework for performance reporting and driving wellbeing outcomes in NSW – Submission to the Public Accounts Committee
26 July 2024
The NSW Minister for Finance and Public Accounts Committee are conducting an inquiry to develop the State’s first wellbeing framework for reporting on the performance of NSW Government services.
This will enable the government to evaluate its decisions and investments not just in terms of money, but also in terms of how they impact people.
PWDA welcomes the opportunity to provide preliminary comments on the framework for performance reporting and driving wellbeing outcomes in NSW. We want to ensure the framework is developed with the input of people with disability and includes and centres what matters most to us.
The overarching theme of this submission is that measures of wellbeing must be inclusive. Current budgeted spending and performance measures do not always reflect the needs, choices or wellbeing outcomes of people with disability.
As this is the first time the NSW Government has proposed measuring wellbeing, in Part 1- A wellbeing framework, we have made broad recommendations about how to develop these measures.
In Part 2- Key wellbeing domains We have related our submission to areas that are within the power of the NSW State Government to act, and that are areas we have positions on that relate to key wellbeing domains in the National Wellbeing framework.
Summary of Recommendations
Part 1 – A wellbeing framework
Recommendation 1 – Measurement
Work with people with disability, the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare, Australian Bureau of Statistics and researchers to develop a consistent fit-for-purpose measurement framework to identify people with disability, accessibility issues and exclusion barriers in a disaggregated way
Recommendation 2 – Co-design measurement with people with disability
Undertake a co-design process with people with disability and their DROs to ensure that measurement upholds our CRPD rights, is effective, impactful and avoids unintended negative consequences
Recommendation 3 – Standard setting
Based on the measurements developed, set standards for information and service accessibility, employment and procurement by the NSW Government.
Recommendation 4 – Action audits
Based on the measurements established, develop an audit framework to identify the current state and ongoing performance against the standards, to recommend and report action taken against the standards
Recommendation 5 – Customer feedback
Work with the co-design group, researchers, relevant experts within and outside government to develop accessible and inclusive ways to gather and report on customer feedback to improve outcomes
Recommendation 6 – Impact measurement
Work with the co-design group, researchers and relevant experts within and outside government to develop an impact measurement framework based on achieving greater inclusion in conformity with the measurements vs business as usual
Recommendation 7 – Publication
We recommend that once the standards are set and action audits begin, annual reports be published
Part 2 – Key wellbeing domains
Recommendation 8 – NSW Government to sign up to the standard Silver Livable Design Standard for all new homes and to measure and report on where they are built
Recommendation 9 – Develop measures of housing accessibility for existing homes using a co-design process with people with disability and their DRO’s
Recommendation 10 – Require all public and social housing be audited against housing accessibility standards, and the results published, so housing support services are better able to identify options for people with disability. Encourage the rental and private sectors to use the accessibility standards.
Recommendation 11 – Review the housing application for social and affordable housing, to make the process accessible, and incentivise real estate agents, landlords and developers to do the same
Recommendation 12 – Develop measures of education inclusion using a co-design process with people with disability and their DRO’s, evaluate and report on the transition to inclusive education
Recommendation 13 – Develop measures, evaluate and report on the impact of learning supports on educational and wellbeing outcomes of children with disability
Recommendation 14 – Research the early learning and adult education support needs of people with disability, with the goal of developing appropriate measurement and supports to make education fully accessible over the life course
Recommendation 15 – Develop measures using a co-design process with people with disability and their DRO’s, evaluate and report on the employment of people with disability at all levels with the NSW Government and its suppliers
Recommendation 16 – Develop measures using a co-design process with people with disability and their DRO’s, to evaluate and report on the inclusion of people with disability in all of the health services and supports in NSW, both as recipients of care, and in the health care workforce
Recommendation 17 – Research and share effective ways to address gaps in service and inclusion, based on identified success
Recommendation 18 – Develop pilots and research opportunities with people with disability and their DRO’s, to identify new ways to address gaps in service and inclusion
Recommendation 19 – Develop a plan for improvements in personal safety and for people with disability, measure and report against it
Recommendation 20 – Develop a plan to improve the accessibility of voting for people with disability, measure and report against it
Recommendation 21 – Develop a plan to improve digital accessibility and inclusion for people with disability based on the strategy, then measure and report against it
Recommendation 22 – Develop and distribute measurement tools to identify unmet transport need, especially by people with disability and use this to inform the development of new services.
Recommendation 23 – Develop and distribute measurement tools to identify unmet accessibility needs, and a clearinghouse to share resources and best practice to address them