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Disability Health Reference Group Terms of Reference

Role

The ACT Disability Health Reference Group (DHRG) provides advice to the ACT Government and the ACT health system on improving the health and wellbeing of people with disability.

Functions

The Group:

  • Provides advice on disability and health issues.
  • Monitors the progress of:
    • ACT Disability Health Strategy 2024‑2033.
    • Canberra Health Services Disability Inclusion Plan.

The Group may also:

  • Support other ACT or national disability health work.
  • Support engagement between people with disability, carers, service providers and advocacy organisations.

How the Group Works

Members commit to:

  • Confidentiality – not sharing private or confidential information without permission.
  • Respect – valuing all experiences and views.
  • Collaboration – working together and with others.
  • Open communication – being clear and transparent.
  • Diversity and inclusion – respecting different needs, cultures, and views.
  • Inclusive language – respecting person‑first and identity‑first language choices.

Membership

The Group includes:

  • Community members.
  • Community organisation members.
  • Government representatives.

Community members

  • 7 to 12 people.
  • Must have lived experience as a person with disability or carer.
  • Must live, work, study, or volunteer in the ACT.
  • The Group aims to include many types of disability and caring roles.
  • People who work in government or disability or health organisations may join if there is no conflict of interest.

Community organisation members

  • ACT Down Syndrome and Intellectual Disability.
  • ACT Mental Health Consumer Network.
  • Carers ACT.
  • Health Care Consumers’ Association.
  • Women With Disabilities ACT.

For consistency, community organisations should identify a representative of the organisation to participate in the Group.

Other members

  • Capital Health Network.

Government members

Senior ACT Government staff with responsibility for:

  • Disability Health Strategy.
  • Canberra Health Services Disability Access and Inclusion Plan.
  • Mental Health Policy and Strategy.
  • Office for Disability.

Length of membership

Community members are appointed by the Executive Group Manager responsible for the Disability Health Strategy for 2-year terms. Membership may be extended for up to 2 more years.

Members can resign at any time by writing to the Co‑Chairs.

Co-Chairs

The Group has two Co‑Chairs:

  • One Co‑Chair is a person with disability. They are appointed by the Executive Group Manager responsible for the Disability Health Strategy for 2 years, following a selection process.
  • One Co‑Chair is a senior ACT Government staff member, responsible for the Disability Health Strategy.

Roles and Responsibilities

Co-Chairs

  • Lead meetings and represent the Group.
  • Ensure inclusive, focused, and constructive discussions.
  • Liaise with government and oversee work progress.
  • Address conflicts and support reasonable adjustments.

All Members

  • Attend and prepare for meetings.
  • Participate in out-of-session activities.
  • Contribute expertise and lived experience.
  • Complete agreed tasks and seek feedback from relevant networks.

Government members

  • Share information with and from the ACT Government.

Support Persons

  • Community members may request a support person.
  • Support persons can help with preparation or attendance.
  • Support persons may attend meetings but not participate in the discussion.

Secretariat

  • Provided by the Disability Health Policy team.
  • Supports agendas, papers, minutes, task tracking, logistics, and accessibility needs.

Meetings

The Group will usually meet 4 times per year. Meetings will not be held in December or January.

Meetings will be planned and run in ways that support inclusive participation, including making adjustments for members with disability.

The Co-Chairs can agree to change how often meetings are held, or how they are run, where this helps the Group to effectively fulfil its role and functions or supports members to participate effectively.

Quorum: 50% + 1 of community and community organisation members.

Meeting papers will be shared two weeks before each meeting.

The Group may also use out-of-session activities, such as short-term working groups or targeted consultations, to gather advice and to support good governance.

Attendance and Leave

The Group is an ongoing advisory body, and regular attendance and active participation are important so that members’ advice is meaningful, valued and has impact.

Members must notify the Secretariat if they are unable to attend. Co-Chairs may decide to not proceed with a meeting if a quorum is not present.

Ongoing non-attendance may result in replacement.

Community members may not send a proxy to meetings.

Community organisation members should send an appropriate alternative representative to meetings wherever possible, and advise the Secretariat at least 2 days before the meeting to support managing confidentiality and conflict of interest arrangements.

Conflicts of Interest

A conflict of interest is when a member has a personal, financial, or other interest in something that the Group is talking about or working on.

Members must declare any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts.

Co-Chairs determine and record how conflicts are managed.

Remuneration

Community members are paid for meetings and significant approved out -of-session activities.

Rates are set and reviewed annually by the Directorate.

Support person payments are at Co-Chairs’ discretion.

Review of Terms of Reference

The Terms of Reference are reviewed by members at least every two years, and more regularly if required.

Revised Terms of Reference are to be endorsed by the Co-Chairs.