Australian Federation of Disability Organisations

Australia Fair is a new national initiative which aims to get the community active and involved in making Australia fair.

Launched in 2006, Australia Fair has a vision of achieving a more equal Australia:

We want a country where no Australian is left to struggle on their own. We work towards giving every Australian an adequate standard of living and a fair chance at participating in our economy and society. We seek support from all Australians to help the people who most need it: men, women and children who do not have a secure home, a job, an education, good health and other services they need.
- Australia Fair website

Australia Fair is an initiative of the Australian Council of Social Service and is supported by the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations.

AFDO encourages everyone to get involved in Australia Fair. You can join via the website www.australiafair.org.au and receive updates on activities, take part in discussions and take action to make Australia fair.

Through the website you can:
• join the Australia Fair Action Network which lets you email your local politicians in three simple steps to express your concern about current issues
• use the Australia Fair Media Resource to write to the editors of your local newspapers and call local talkback radio and television programs to have your views heard
• find information about Australia Fair Citizens’ Juries – where a representative group of people of different ages and backgrounds hear experts and give advice on what actions are needed to make Australia fair
• contribute to Australia Fair My Postcode; tell others what is fair and unfair in your local area and add your photo to the Australia Fair petition to encourage governments to set targets and take action to make Australia fair

You can also contribute your idea of the ten things we need to do to make Australia fair.

Last year Australia Fair asked the Australian community to nominate the essentials that were needed to make Australia fair and they said: Fair Education, Fair Health, Fair Welfare, Fair Environment, Fair Work, Fair Community, Fair Reconciliation, Fair Housing, Fair Services, Fair Rights & Responsibilities.

AFDO and its members contributed to this discussion. We said:

A fair Australia is a place where the human rights of people with disability are respected, realised and protected through strong human rights enforcement tools. A fair Australia would:

• ensure that people with disability live free from abuse, neglect and mistreatment, irrespective of their living arrangements
• reduce the over-representation of people with disability in the criminal justice system
• address violence against people with disability, particularly against women
• end the unlawful sterilization of women and girls with disability
• create accessible environments including streetscapes, transport, public buildings and private housing
• improve economic participation opportunities for people with disability through greater access to education, training and employment
• develop responsive and accessible generic and disability specific services
• provide financial assistance to support the economic and social participation of people with disability
• guarantee access for all people with disability to a secret, independent vote
• provide information to all people in the form they need

For more information, go to: www.australiafair.org.au