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About disability access and inclusion in Bayside

Bayside's Disability Action Plan

The Disability Action Plan addresses the Disability Act 2006 and forms part of Bayside’s Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2021-2025. The Disability Action Plan sets out a whole of Council approach for the next four years to improve disability access and inclusion in Bayside.

The Disability Action Plan has been developed in close consultation with Bayside’s Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee, which includes 10 community members who have a disability or care for a person with a disability.

The Action Plan has a clear focus on access and inclusion in the built, social and digital environments, rather than the area of personal care and support, which is largely now provided for via the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and My Aged Care.

Bayside Community

Over 14,000 people living in Bayside have a disability and over 4,000 people need assistance in their day-to-day lives. There is also a substantially higher percentage of older persons living in Bayside (85 years and over) when compared to metropolitan Melbourne.

It is anticipated that there will be an increase in the number of people with a disability over the next four years in Bayside. Currently, 9,800 Bayside residents are providing unpaid care to family members or others because of a disability or illness.

Working in Partnership

Partnerships are crucial in ensuring the access and inclusion priorities are addressed. Bayside’s Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee have played a key role in guiding the development of the Disability Action Plan.

Implementation will require a whole-of-organisation approach, with an emphasis on ensuring that access and inclusion are incorporated into the initial planning stages of Council projects and services.

Supporting community organisations such as sports clubs and kindergartens, through community grants and other measures, will be vital in breaking down attitudinal barriers. Working with traders’ groups and business organisations will be critical in ensuring both physical access into retail premises and exploring employment opportunities for people with a disability. Partnerships will be critical with organisations like the Brotherhood of St Laurence, who is the local National Disability Insurance Scheme provider, and with local health services and local peer support groups.

Disability access and inclusion advisory committee

Do you have a question about access and inclusion?

Please contact Vimbayi Kagonda - Inclusion Officer. 

Phone

(03) 9599 4871

Email 

vkagonda@bayside.vic.gov.au