.jpg)
The Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 (the Transport Standards) provide requirements for public transport operators and providers to make their services accessible and remove discrimination for people with disability.
In 2022, The Social Deck was engaged by the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts to conduct national consultations to progress Stage 2 reforms to the Transport Standards. This engagement helped to inform some of the first major reforms to the Standards in 20 years. Engagement on the reforms focused on gaining qualitative insights to further understand what needed to change from the perspective of people with disability and stakeholders. This was done through webinars, workshops and focus groups, as well as online discussion boards.
Later in 2022, we also worked with the department to conduct a separate national consultation project for the Transport Standards Review, which occurs every 5 years to measure effectiveness.
During the Transport Standards Review consultations, we gathered input from almost 1000 people with disability, disability advocates, transport operators and providers and government. The engagement mix provided a range of ways for people to get involved, including:
Workshops and focus groups were all held online and delivered with co-facilitators with lived experience of disability. Insights from these and other complementary engagements were analysed and consolidated in reports to the department.
More about reforms to the Transport Standards
Outcomes from the public engagement helped to shape adjustments and updates to the Transport Standards, which were the first major reform updates in 20 years. Key changes included:
The Social Deck facilitated and reported on two national public consultation process to improve the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 including engagement for the 5-yearly review (2022) and for Stage 2 of reforms to the Transport Standards.
The Social Deck acknowledges the traditional custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. Our staff live and work on the lands of many First Nations peoples, including the Gubbi Gubbi or Kabi Kabi people, the Turrbal and Yuggera people, the Bundjalung people, the Ngarigo and Ngunnawal people and the Wadawurrung people. These peoples have lived on and cared for these lands for thousands of generations, and their sovereignty has never been ceded. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to elders past and present.
The Social Deck acknowledges the traditional custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. Our staff live and work on the lands of many First Nations peoples, including the Gubbi Gubbi or Kabi Kabi people, the Turrbal and Yuggera people, the Bundjalung people, the Ngarigo and Ngunnawal people and the Wadawurrung people. These peoples have lived on and cared for these lands for thousands of generations, and their sovereignty has never been ceded. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to elders past and present.
