Access and Inclusion - Agent and Contractor Practice Review

Consultation has concluded

Caucasian adult male with disability playing badminton.

What are we focusing on?

The City of Bayswater Access and Inclusion Plan 2020-2024, identified a strategy to review practices in respect to the engagement of agents and contractors under the following outcome area:

Outcome 2: Strategy 2.1 (b) To review and update City documentation to ensure agents and contactors are aware of their access and inclusion responsibility when providing goods and services to the public on behalf of the City. This includes contracts, service agreements, tenders and decision-making frameworks."

What do we mean by 'agents and contractors'?

Agents and contractors engaged by the City or providing a service on behalf of the City could include: suppliers, consultants, contractors (through a tender or direct engagement), service agents and partners.

An agent or contractor is a person, business or entity authorised to act on another's behalf by performing a service or delivering a product under an agreement, or where there is an exchange of money for services (this includes grants).

What are the City’s obligations under the Disability Services Act 1993 (amended 2004)?

Section 29B of the Act (1993) states that “...a public authority that has a Disability Access and Inclusion Plan must take all practical measures to ensure that the plan is implemented by the public authority and its officers, employees, agents or contractors”.

The intent of the Act is that where agents and contractors are used in the provision of a service to the community on behalf of the public authority, that the agent and/or contractor takes into account the needs of people with disability. For example, if a contractor is developing a new website then this relates to Outcome 3: Accessible information.

Why it is important that all Managers contribute to the Agents and Contractor Practice Review?

We are seeking to understand what Managers currently know, and what their practices are in procuring, informing and monitoring agents and contractors within their remit of access and inclusion responsibilities.

With this input, we aim to identify opportunities for continuous improvement in the procurement and management of agents and contractors to ensure that they are delivering services consistent with the intent of the City’s Access and Inclusion Plan 2020 – 2024, (Outcomes 1-7).

Feedback will also support the City's annual Disability Access and Inclusion Plan Progress Report submission to the Department of Communities - Disability Services, due in early July 2021.

Please complete the survey by close of business on Thursday, 3 June If you have any questions, please contact Michele Fletcher, Coordinator Community Development on 9272 0621or email michele.fletcher@bayswater.wa.gov.au

What are we focusing on?

The City of Bayswater Access and Inclusion Plan 2020-2024, identified a strategy to review practices in respect to the engagement of agents and contractors under the following outcome area:

Outcome 2: Strategy 2.1 (b) To review and update City documentation to ensure agents and contactors are aware of their access and inclusion responsibility when providing goods and services to the public on behalf of the City. This includes contracts, service agreements, tenders and decision-making frameworks."

What do we mean by 'agents and contractors'?

Agents and contractors engaged by the City or providing a service on behalf of the City could include: suppliers, consultants, contractors (through a tender or direct engagement), service agents and partners.

An agent or contractor is a person, business or entity authorised to act on another's behalf by performing a service or delivering a product under an agreement, or where there is an exchange of money for services (this includes grants).

What are the City’s obligations under the Disability Services Act 1993 (amended 2004)?

Section 29B of the Act (1993) states that “...a public authority that has a Disability Access and Inclusion Plan must take all practical measures to ensure that the plan is implemented by the public authority and its officers, employees, agents or contractors”.

The intent of the Act is that where agents and contractors are used in the provision of a service to the community on behalf of the public authority, that the agent and/or contractor takes into account the needs of people with disability. For example, if a contractor is developing a new website then this relates to Outcome 3: Accessible information.

Why it is important that all Managers contribute to the Agents and Contractor Practice Review?

We are seeking to understand what Managers currently know, and what their practices are in procuring, informing and monitoring agents and contractors within their remit of access and inclusion responsibilities.

With this input, we aim to identify opportunities for continuous improvement in the procurement and management of agents and contractors to ensure that they are delivering services consistent with the intent of the City’s Access and Inclusion Plan 2020 – 2024, (Outcomes 1-7).

Feedback will also support the City's annual Disability Access and Inclusion Plan Progress Report submission to the Department of Communities - Disability Services, due in early July 2021.

Please complete the survey by close of business on Thursday, 3 June If you have any questions, please contact Michele Fletcher, Coordinator Community Development on 9272 0621or email michele.fletcher@bayswater.wa.gov.au