FAQs

A Disability Inclusion Action Plan provides Council with a framework to create a more inclusive and accessible place to live. Its purpose is to ensure we are supporting people with disability and their carers to be involved fully in community life. Disability inclusion action planning is a way that local governments can reduce and remove barriers for people with disability and foster a more accessible and inclusive community.

Our Disability Inclusion Action Plan will focus on four areas: 

• Attitudes & Behaviours – Promoting positive attitudes and behaviours toward people with disability
• Liveability – Making improvements to ensure our community is easier to live in and get around
• Employment Opportunities – Supporting access to meaningful employment opportunities at council and encouraging employers in Wollondilly to employ people with disability
• Systems & Processes – Making sure the information we provide is accessible and easy to understand and that our services are inclusive.  

Under the Disability Inclusion Act 2014, all NSW Government Departments and all Local Councils are required to develop a Disability Inclusion Action Plan. Aside from legislation, we think it is an important way to set out our intentions for an inclusive community, accessible to everyone.

No, our very first Disability Inclusion Action Plan was developed in consultation with the Wollondilly Community and endorsed by Council in June 2017.

Council has undertaken various projects and upgrades since our first DIAP was adopted in June 2017, which have included:

• New accessible toilet facilities built across the Shire including Thirlmere, Bargo, Tahmoor and The Oaks
• Continuation of the Inclusion and Access Community Advisory Committee
• Live Auslan Storytime on Wollondilly Library Facebook
• Completion of ‘Livvi’s Place’, an inclusive play space with a changing places accessible lift and change facility located in the township of Warragamba 
• Renewal of a number of bus stops including new facilities at Mt Hunter and Camden Park
• Youth employment project ‘Adulting 101’ which included courses in responsible service of alcohol, responsible conduct of gambling, barista training and resume writing courses
• Accessibility upgrades to the website implemented, to ensure our website is compatible with adaptive technology such as screen readers.
• Open captioning implemented in all Council short videos that were used for internal and external purposes.

Council is engaging with the community now to develop a new DIAP to ensure we continue to meet the needs of everyone in our community.

We can include action items that are within Council’s scope and control, including:

• Council buildings and facilities including Council offices, Council depot, halls, sportsgrounds, parks and reserves, children’s services, library, swimming pools, animal shelter, plant nursery etc. 
• Communications and engagement run by Council
• Events and projects run or supported by Council e.g. Events and projects funded by Council community grants program.
• Council’s community bus
• Employment with Council
• Partnership community development projects that aim to fill service provision gaps within the sector.
• Identifying what to advocate for, and at what level. 

We cannot include things that fall outside Council’s scope and control, such as 

• Things related to public transport and associated infrastructure e.g. railway stations
• Events organised by private companies
• Workplaces outside Council workplaces 
• Organisations outside Council
• Messaging from organisations other than Council
• Parameters around accessing the National Disability Insurance Scheme

Please note: Council may be able to advocate for some of these things.

Disabilities can be very different person to person. They can be physical, intellectual, a mental illness, or sensory. They can be temporary or permanent, and can be there from birth or occur during a person’s lifetime. 

The Disability Inclusion Act 2014 defines disability as: ‘The long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which in interaction with various barriers may hinder the full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.’

Many people who are carers don’t see themselves as carers. They are family members, partners, relatives or friends who care for someone close to them. You may also be a carer if you are looking after someone with a disability, a medical condition, mental illness or who is frail due to age.

The definition of carer (under the Australian Carer Recognition Act 2010) is someone who gives care and support to a relative or friend who:

• Has a disability
• Has a medical condition (terminal or chronic illness)
• Has a mental illness
• Is frail because they are old (known as frail and aged).

• In 2018 there were 4.4 million Australians with disability, 17.7% of the population.
• The prevalence of disability increases with age.
• Disability prevalence was similar for males (17.6%) and females (17.8%).
• 5.7% of all Australians had a profound or severe disability.
• Almost one-quarter (23.2%) of all people with disability reported a mental or behavioural disorder as their main condition.

[Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics]

• In 2018, there were 2.65 million carers, representing 10.8% of all Australians.
• Females were more likely to be carers than males.
• 3.5% of all Australians were primary carers.
• The most common reason primary carers gave for taking on a caring role was a sense of family responsibility (70.1% of all primary carers).

[Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics]