Our Four Themes

The structure of our plan is based on the four themes in the State Disability Inclusion Plan 2019-2023 - Inclusive SA, launched on 1 November 2019.

Our four themes are:

• Inclusive communities for all.
• Leadership and collaboration.
• Accessible communities.
• Learning and employment

Click on the 'TABS' below to view our priorities and commitments to improving disability access and inclusion.

Social inclusion: Everyone feels valued and a contributing member of our local community.

Our commitment:

• Our buildings, places, activities, services and facilities are well maintained, accessible and welcoming to diverse cultures and abilities.
• Participation for all is delivered in our products and services and our outcomes complement disability legislation.
• We continue to support and encourage the development of ideas that provide increased opportunities for people living with disability

Advocacy: We provide opportunities for people with disabilities to advocate for themselves.

Our commitment:

• Council has an Access and Inclusion Advisory Group (including people with lived experience of disability) to support our employees with their decision-making.
• Council actively encourages young people with disability to participate, and to be changemakers within their communities.
• We continue to welcome feedback and respond appropriately to residents with a disability.
• We support all members of our community can fulfil their civic roles (such as voting in Council elections).

Community education and awareness: We assist our local community to understand that people are not disabled because of their disability, but by their environment and how their disability is perceived by others.

Our commitment:

• People with disability are proportionally and accurately represented in our media content.
• We raise community and business awareness about the need for access and inclusion within the City.
• We raise community awareness and understanding of the functional requirements that people living with a disability require.

Involvement in our Community: We strive for a City where everyone can join in.

Our commitment:

• Information is easily available so that residents and visitors can pre-plan their journeys in our City.
• Council continues to promote the area as a tourist destination for all abilities.
• Council encourages its suppliers, contractors, developers and local businesses to establish strategies to both include and improve the lives of people living with disability.

Leadership: Council creates and nurtures a positive culture regarding disability access and inclusion within our organisation. We encourage the same within our community, we lead by example.

Our commitment:

• Council advocates for and supports the development of:
  • Accessible and adequate transport in our community.
  • Inclusive affordable housing where there is access to services.
  • Enterprises aimed at improving employment opportunities and the inclusion of people with disability.
  • Financial incentives that encourage connections between people with a disability.
• We work with all stakeholders to encourage innovative ideas that improve access and inclusion within our community.
• Allocation of financial resources for each of our projects will be assessed to integrate access and inclusion.

Communication and Community Engagement: We actively engage with our stakeholders and community to understand their needs, interests, and aspirations in terms of access and inclusion.

Our commitment:

• Our community engagement and consultation practices are authentic, inclusive, and accessible to people of all ages, cultures, and abilities.
• Where possible we partner with community service providers to improve collaboration opportunities for people living with disability.
• We engage with people living with disability to make mainstream events and activities more accessible and inclusive.
• We review Council’s practices regarding the supply and use of assistive services (such as hearing assistance devices and interpreter services).

Decision-making: Our decisions are based on evidence, knowledge, best practice, and engagement with our community.

Our commitment:

• We develop an integrated planning and design approach that enables us to seek advice and opinions from those with lived experience of disability.
• Council continue to discuss innovations and ideas with other councils to broaden our collective knowledge.
• We support Councillors and staff to have a high level of understanding about access and inclusion across Our City.
• Our employees appreciate and champion access and inclusion, by promoting, encouraging and advocating for it in their decision making.

Built urban environments and Universal Design: We provide a City that is well designed, equitable and continuously improved.

Our commitment:

• All capital projects delivered by council consider Universal Design in the planning, design and construction stages.
• Our assets and asset management plans are regularly reviewed to identify barriers to access and participation in community life, and that these barriers are removed wherever possible.
• We conduct regular reviews and assessment of disability parking provisions, design and locations across our city are conducted to ensure disability parking is adequate.

Access to the services we offer: We have a thriving and inclusive community that everyone can enjoy. We advocate for accessibility and inclusion within our City.

Our commitment:

• All services and programs delivered by council follow the principles of Universal Design wherever possible.
• We establish reviews, guidelines and checklists to maximise access and inclusion and improve Council activities and events.
• That where possible, we provide additional support to encourage groups with historically lower levels of engagement, such as young people, women, children, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities to participate and thrive in our city.

Information we share: Information we share should foster understanding and appreciation of our diverse communities, history, and culture.

Our commitment:

• We continuously work to convey our messaging to all sectors of our community in clear and accessible ways (such as multiple languages).
• We explore innovative ways to provide and gather information using modern technology, methods, and trends including the transformation of our website in line with the WCAG 2.0 standards.
• Our libraries and community spaces are inclusive hubs for connecting people, sharing information and taking part in lifelong learning activities.

Community belonging: Our diverse community values fairness, respect, and a spirit of belonging.

Our commitment:

• We continue to increase accessibility at our major recreational destinations and facilities, such as beaches, rivers, parks, playgrounds and lakes.
• Our civic spaces including libraries, community centres and halls are welcoming with easy access for all.
• Our intercultural communities are encouraged to contribute their ideas and knowledge, whatever their ability.

Employment, volunteering and development: We provide inclusive and flexible employment, volunteering and development pathways that reflect our diverse intercultural community.

Our commitment:

• Our guidelines and processes for employee and volunteer recruitment and onboarding represent our inclusive culture.
• As an employer, we promote workplace diversity, flexibility and inclusivity to ensure we have accessible workplaces.
• Skill Development opportunities are provided through meaningful roles that build capacity.

Lifelong learning: We model an inclusive and equitable lifelong learning methodology.

Our commitment:

• Council form and maintain an internal Disability Access and Inclusion Working Group.
• We remove barriers so residents can easily participate in our learning programs and workshops.
• We offer inclusive learning experiences at our libraries, community centres and provide special mobile and online services where possible.

Ability and flexibility: We work to remove barriers and provide support to our community.

Our commitment:

• We select and evaluate case studies that focus on access and inclusion outcomes, as a learning tool for us to keep improving.
• We prioritise the removal of barriers that lead to community isolation wherever possible.
• We collaborate, encourage and support our community to have flexible training and employment opportunities.
• We continue to strengthen the experience we offer our customers to enhance the quality of service for people living with disability.