Welcome to Disability, Housing and Community Services

The ACT Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services has responsibility for a wide range of human services functions in the ACT, including multicultural affairs, community services, older people, women, public and community housing services and policy, children, youth and family support services and policy, disability policy and services, therapy services, Child and Family Centres, the ACT Government Concessions Program, homelessness, community engagement, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, and community disaster recovery.

What's New ...

For a comprehensive list of DHCS Publications please visit DHCS Publications.

Working with Vulnerable People Checks

The ACT Government sought community comment on a proposed background checking system for people working with vulnerable people in the ACT. The closing date for submissions was 12 October 2009.

A Consultation Report summarising the submissions received in response to the Discussion Paper on A Working with Vulnerable People Checking System for the ACT is now available.

Please refer to Working with Vulnerable People Checks page for more information.

Community Partners

Chronicle Liftout February 2010 (accessible versions) RTF 56kb | PDF 95kb
Chronicle Liftout February 2010 (designer version) PDF 841kb

ACT Accessible Public Transport Plan

ACT Chief Minister and Minister for Transport, Jon Stanhope, launched the ACT Government's Accessible Public Transport Action Plan 2009-2012 on Wednesday 30 September 2009.
http://www.tams.act.gov.au/move/public_transport/accessiblepublictransport

Australian Government announces feasibility study into long-term care and support for Australians with disability

On 23 November 2009 the Government announced that as part of the National Disability Strategy, the Productivity Commission has been commissioned to undertake a feasibility study into long-term care and support for people with disability in Australia.
http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/disability/news/Pages/feasibility_study.aspx

ACT Strategic Plan for Positive Ageing

More information is available on the Strategic Plan webpage.

ACT Multicultural Strategy 2010 - 2013

Multicultural Strategy 2010 - 2013

Young People's Plan 2009 - 2014

The Road Map - Discussion Paper

The Road Map - Discussion Paper PDF 402kb | Word 287kb

ACT Charter for Children and Young People in Out of Home Care

On 27 November 2009 Minister for Disability Housing and Community Services, Joy Burch today launched the ACT Charter of Rights for Children and Young People in Out of Home Care.

The Charter is for all children and young people who are unable to live with their parents and are living in short term or long term Out of Home Care. This includes foster care, kinship care, respite care, or other residential care facilities.

National Apology to the Forgotten Australians and Former Child Migrants

More information on the National Apology

Disability E-News

Disability ACT is now trialing a bi-monthly e-newsletter to provide relevant information that is of interest to the sector.

The latest edition is now available on the Disability E - News page. We welcome your feedback.

Community Partners Newsletter

Community Partners Newsletter - September Edition RTF 46kb | PDF 2.2mb

Annual Report 2008-09

DHCS Annual Report 2008-09

Review of Industrial Arrangements for the ACT Community Sector

Second Draft Multicultural Strategy 2010-2013

Portable Long Service Leave Scheme for the ACT Community Sector

Portable Long Service Leave Scheme

Supportive Housing

Draft Young Peoples Plan 2009-2014

Revitalising Our Communities - Regional Community Hubs

Draft Strategic Plan for Positive Ageing

ACT Government Concessions Policy

ACT Government Concessions Policy Word 105kb | PDF 51kb

Community Partners Newsletter

Disability ACT's Community Partners Newsletter - Winter Edition 2009 PDF 1,009kb

Reconciliation Action Plan for the Year 2009-10

H1N1 Influenza 09 (Human Swine Influenza)

The H1N1 Influenza 09 (Human Swine Influenza) virus is a new strain of influenza, which is being seen in outbreaks around the world and in Australia.

ACT Health is directing significant efforts towards ensuring that any infection, once it occurs, can be contained.

More information and resources
ACT Heath website
Frequently Asked Questions
Resources and Fact Sheets
Weekly Updates
National Action Plan for Human Influenza Pandemic
H1N1 Influenza 09 Outbreak - Health Emergency (Australian Government)
World Health Organisation

Disability ACT specific arrangements

Children and Young People with a Disability and their Families

Children and Young People with a Disability and their Families Policy Word 311kb | PDF 105kb

ACT Disability Policy Framework 2009-2014

ACT Disability Policy Framework 2009-2014
The ACT Government is updating its policy framework to improve outcomes and opportunities for Canberrans who have a disability.

ACT Budget

ACT Budget 2009-2010

Australian Capital Territory Budget 2008-2009
Presented on 6 May 2008 by Jon Stanhope MLA,
Treasurer of the Australian Capital Territory

ACT Companion Card Program

The ACT Companion Card program forms part of a national scheme that includes reciprocal arrangements with other States and Territories. The program allows ACT cardholders to use their card at over 1,800 businesses across Australia that currently accept the card.

The Companion Card Program currently operates in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia.

Review of the Role of Government as a Provider of Disability Services

The Review of the Role of Government focused on the strategic priorities that need to be considered in the delivery of disability services over the next 5-7 years. Through a very comprehensive consultation process with a wide range of stakeholders, the Review has delivered a set of 12 recommendations that, together with the recommendations from the Evaluation of Future Directions, continue to bring us closer in reaching the aspirations articulated in Challenge 2014.

Final Think Tank Report PDF 189kb
Progress Report on Think Tank Recommendations Word 75kb | PDF 55kb

Australian Government National Building and Jobs Plan - Social Housing

The ACT’s expected share of the Australian Government’s $42 billion Nation Building and Jobs Plan is $350 million.

Social Housing Information

Keeping Children and Young People Safe

The new provision in relation to Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect have been included in the Children and Young People Act 2008 and these commence from 27 October 2008.

The booklet Keeping Children and Young People Safe explaining the responsibilities and processes for reporting child abuse and neglect in the ACT, has also been revised to reflect the amendments to the Act and is available here as a draft. Hard copies of the new publication will be available in due course, please contact Learning and Community Education on 62071382 for more infromation about obtaining a copy when it becomes available.

Community Partners News & Information

Latest Community Partners News and Information March 2009 PDF 6mb
Previous Community Partners News & Information

Consultation into the Future Use of Community Sites

GHD Pty Ltd's consultation into the Future Use of Community Sites

$24.6 Million For Community Facilities in the ACT

Visit this link to access the Purdon & Associates reports, including individual site reports.

ACT Government Feedback: Have your say