Review Council's draft Disability Action Plan

Published on 21 December 2022

Hepburn Shire Council has worked closely with its Disability Advisory Committee to develop a draft Disability Action Plan, which is now open for public feedback.

Community members living with disability and their friends, family members or carers are encouraged to provide feedback on the draft plan by Sunday 22 January 2023.

“The action plan will guide our work to support and advocate for community members living with disability so it’s important that we get it right,” said Mayor, Cr Brian Hood.

The plan covers a range of priorities including inclusive communities; health, housing and wellbeing; fairness and safety; and opportunity and pride. The four areas are specified in the Victorian Disability Plan and all actions must fall into at least one of the priority areas.

Community feedback will help Council to fine-tune the actions in the draft action plan. Actions range from changing attitudes, to transport, sport and recreation, assistance animals to supporting a high-quality NDIS.

The new plan has a focus on ‘invisible disabilities’ including neurological, cognitive and sensory disabilities. It also aims to improve the accessibility of information Council provides to the community, and will continue the process of removing access barriers in the built environment.

The draft action plan is available at Council hubs and on Council’s engagement platform at Participate Hepburn at https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/DisabilityAP.

Council is also looking for new members to join the Disability Advisory Committee.

We encourage people to apply who have lived experience of a physical, sensory, psychiatric or neurological impairment; care for a person living with disability; are an experienced disability service provider; or disability advocate. Find out more at Participate Hepburn https://participate.hepburn.vic.gov.au/DAC. Expressions of interest to join the committee close on Tuesday 31 January 2023.

The Disability Action Plan aligns with the four-year Council Plan and Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan and integrates with many other Council plans and strategies.

Council will consider the Disability Action Plan for adoption in early 2023.