The Central Goldfields Shire Council is inviting residents to have their say on the development of a Disability Action Plan, with opportunities to provide feedback closing next week.
The new Disability Action Plan aims to achieve the best outcomes for the community and feedback will assist council in planning to meet the aspirations, values and needs of residents.
The Disability Action Plan will cover the four outcome areas of the Disability Act 2006 — reducing barriers to persons with a disability accessing goods, services and facilities, reducing barriers to persons with a disability getting and keeping a job, promoting inclusion and community participation for persons with a disability and achieving tangible changes in attitudes and practices that discriminate against persons living with a disability.
Central Goldfields Shire general manager community wellbeing Martin Collins said the plan is a positive way to ensure an inclusive and enabling culture across the shire.
“We are seeking to update our previous Disability Action Plan to ensure our service provision and priorities are fully aligned with the needs and ambitions of our communities including those of us living with a disability,” he said.
“A Disability Action Plan is not only a legislative requirement, but is a positive way of ensuring that we create an inclusive and enabling culture across the shire — this includes things like equal access to council services, but also ensuring that our buildings, roads and footpaths are well designed, well maintained and accessible to all.
“This plan is not just relating to physical disability, it covers mental and sensory disability as well.
“We also have a number of disability service providers locally and this plan will enable council to better work alongside them to support everyone in our community.”
Survey responses are confidential, can be anonymous and will only be used for the development of the plan.
The survey also allows residents to tell council how they have been coping with the coronavirus pandemic and how the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has affected their lives.
Mr Collins encouraged community members to provide feedback if they haven’t already done so.
“Any community members who haven’t yet provided feedback on this plan and would like to are encouraged to do so before 5 pm on Monday, September 21,” he said.
Feedback can be provided on council’s website at www.central goldfields.vic.gov.au/Have-Your-Say/Disability-Action-Plan.
