New Access and Inclusion Plan - have your say!

14 December 2018 - Media release

Campaspe Shire Council is progressing development of a new Access and Inclusion Plan, with the community now invited to comment through an online survey.

Mayor, Cr Adrian Weston said the focus of the plan is to remove barriers and promote participation by people of all abilities in all aspects of community life.

“The Access and Inclusion Plan will provide a strategic framework by which council and other community agencies can work together to break down barriers so that everyone, regardless of their circumstances, can access goods, services, facilities, employment or any other aspect of our society,” Cr Weston said.

More than one in five residents across the Shire of Campaspe have a disability, or 21.9 per cent. This can be a physical or intellectual disability, chronic illness or mental illness.

Council’s current plan, developed in 2014, focuses heavily on issues relating to people with disabilities, the aged and people from a lower socio economic environment.

“Other members of our community, such as those from a cultural or religious minority group or people with children for example, also face difficulties that may prevent them from fully participating in community life,” the Mayor added.

“We want to ensure our new plan reflects the community today, identifies how the needs of the community may have changed and what council needs to focus on in the future to ensure we have an accessible and inclusive community.”

In developing a new plan, staff are already working with key service agencies and groups and through the online survey is now asking the wider community to input into the plan.

The online survey is available through council’s website, closing 31 January. Hard copies are also available through council’s customer service centres.