The Hills Shire Council Disability Inclusion Action Report 2017-2021 1
A CTION REPOR T 20 1 7 - 2021
DISABILITY INCLUSION
ACTION REPORT
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T H E H I L L S S H I R E C O U N C I L T H E H I L L S S H I R E C O U N C I L
WAVES
Pool equipment from Waves Aquatic Centre was donated to Waratah Cottage, located in Baulkham Hills.
The purpose-built group home, managed by Warrah Society, provides supported independent living services to six residents with a range of disabilities.
The donation of a pool hoist, adult change table and marquees comes as welcoming news to the disability provider and its participants who now have the opportunity to use their heated spa, located on The Hills property, year- round.
Works will soon begin on the new more accessible Waves Aquatic Centre upgrade - the biggest project ever undertaken by The Hills Shire Council.
Waves concept image
The Hills Shire Council Disability Inclusion Action Report 2017-2021 3
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Introduction
The NSW Disability Inclusion Act 2014 (DIA) mandates the development of Disability Inclusion Action Plans (D.I.A.P) by individual State Government agencies and by Local Government. It builds on existing social equity requirements within the Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) framework to strengthen Local Government commitment to inclusion, consultation and rights for people with disability. The Plan is a way for Council to work towards a fully inclusive community that can benefit from the services and facilities Council provides.
THE HILLS SHIRE COUNCIL’S DISABILITY INCLUSION ACTION PLAN 2017-2021
The Hills Shire D.I.A.P 2017-2021 reflects the Disability Principles set out in the Disability Inclusion Act. The Plan was developed in consultation with our community, with an emphasis on engaging with people with disability. The actions will help guide our decisions and inform our processes to ensure the services and facilities Council provides are as accessible to and appropriate for all people, including those with a disability, as can reasonably be achieved.
The following pages show the progress Council has made towards achieving these actions during 2019-20.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY The Community Engagement Strategy outlines our plan for informative, inclusive and participative community consultation. Our principles of
community engagement are based on social justice principles: equity, access, participation and rights.
The Hills Shire Council Disability Inclusion Action Report 2017-2021 5
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FOCUS AREA 1
Attitudes & Behaviour
Action Progress Status Performance
Council’s publications and communications reflect positive portrayals of people with a disability to increase awareness of the contribution of people with a disability to our community.
• Positive portrayals of people with a disability, and information about inclusive services, are provided as new opportunities arise. A recent story published is the repurposing of the hoist from Waves pool by Warrah’s Waratah Cottage.
Explore training modules to provide mandatory training to all manager on disability inclusion awareness to increase knowledge of ways to improve business service accessibility and inclusion.
• Training has been included in the 20-21 Learning and Development Calendar.
Include guidelines and strategies in Council’s community engagement practices for inclusive engagement practices to ensure Council’s Community Engagement processes provide
opportunity for participation by people with a disability.
• Community engagement practices include opportunities for engagement with groups representing people with a disability.
ongoing
completed on trackKEY
ACCESS RAMP
Council has refurbished this much-loved local
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FOCUS AREA 2
Liveable Communities
Action Progress Status Performance
Continue to conduct ongoing reviews and upgrades of community facilities to meet relevant best practice approach in Access to Premises
Standards to minimise physical barriers re access to Council locations and facilities by people with a disability.
• Council reviews our building by way of physical inspection (either planned or reactive) or Council may be notified of an access to premises issue by other department staff or the community. If an access issue is discovered at a location or facility, then an improvement plan is put in place, with a time frame depending on the level of severity and impact to people with disabilities.
Continue to work with Transport for NSW regarding Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport.
• Council continues to work with Transport for NSW regarding accessible public transport.
Continue existing DIAP program to ensure compliance with relevant standards for accessible public transport.
• Program to ensure compliance with standards for accessible public transport is ongoing.
• Funding is provided annually in Council’s Works Program.
Prepare an Open Space Strategy that reflects inclusive and accessible practice.
• Recreation Strategy adopted by Council in late 2019, recognises the importance of providing accessible facilities wherever practical. Accessible facilities are also accounted for in all projects. Most recent example includes the access ramp to the operation platform at the Castle Hill remote control car club facility.
Prepare tender documents that include references and specific requirements relating to DDA requirements for new and modified Council buildings.
• Completed and reported in 2018-2019
Annual Report.
Identify projects that can accommodate access upgrades to amenity buildings.
• For each financial year, the building asset management team present and prepare a list of capital works projects to be programmed for delivery during the year. The list of capital works projects will cover a range of community buildings and amenities. Any building that is listed for capital works will be reviewed to see if there are any access to premises issues that can be improved, and therefore included into the scope of work.
Sometimes, the whole capital works project will be to solely accommodate an access upgrade to a community or amenities building.
ongoing
completed on trackKEY
The Hills Shire Council Disability Inclusion Action Report 2017-2021 9
A CTION REPOR T 20 1 7 - 2021
Liveable Communities
CONTINUEDAction Progress Status Performance
Provide library resources in a range of accessible formats for promotion of participation opportunities for people with a disability as members, participants and contributors in library programs.
• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic all libraries within the Hills remained closed during April and May 2020.
Castle Hill and Vinegar Hill Memorial Library re-opened for loans and returns on 1 June 2020. Public health guidelines prevented the Library holding any in house events during this quarter however a home delivery service for seniors over the age of 65yrs serviced 290 customers during the closure period enabling them to continue to engage with Library services during this time.
Identify opportunities to link HCC clients to Council events and programs - increase participation and awareness of promotion of participation opportunities for people with a disability as members, participants and contributors in community events.
• Hills Community Care exited the NDIS two years ago and no longer provides
direct services under NDIS.
Consider facilitation of access and inclusion requirements in planning for community events and education programs.
• Council considers access and inclusion essential in all Council lead events and provides accessibility parking, seating, toilets, and wheelchair access and an under covered easy to access area for guests at specific events.
• As part of community event applications Council asks all event organisers to detail how their events are accessible and strategies they will implement.
Council can provide people with the accessible events guide when needed.
Update Council’s Shire- Wide Development Control Plan requirements to enable dignified and equitable use by all abilities as part of building design considerations.
• Completed and reported in 2018-2019
Annual Report.
Develop and implement a policy regarding change in use, alterations and additions to enable dignified and equitable use by all abilities as part of building design considerations.
• Completed and reported in 2018-2019
Annual Report.
ongoing
completed on trackKEY
FOCUS AREA 3
Employment
Action Progress Status Performance
Continue to employ and maintain a diverse workforce by incorporating inclusion in strategic workforce planning including work experience, supported employment programs and volunteering opportunities.
• Council’s recruitment process continues
to uphold EEO principles.
Provide leadership to business community on how Council creates opportunities for people with disability in workplace participation.
• Through Council’s partnership with the Sydney Hills Business Chamber, we launched an inaugural Charity Expo.
This event provided our business community an opportunity to meet and learn more about disability employment service providers and other not-for- profit community organisations. A key outcome achieved at this event was demonstrating the value to our local business community in matching the abilities and skills of people living with disability, with job vacancies. This event attracted over 80 businesses.
• Through Council’s business visits program, business owners are kept abreast of opportunities and requirements for people with a disability in the workplace.
ongoing
completed on trackKEY
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FOCUS AREA 4
Systems & Processes
Action Progress Status Performance
Develop and implement a communications and media policy specific to inclusive practices in relation to people with a disability.
• Council’s communications and media activities are inclusive of people with a disability.
Ongoing engagement opportunities are provided for people with a disability to contribute to Council’s plans and strategies.
• Engagement opportunities are inclusive of people with a disability.
Throughout COVID-19 a further opportunity to participate was provided through the launch of Council’s new ‘Have your Say’
e-newsletter.
Regularly review the community information directory resources and the method of presentation to ensure information is accessible & up to date for people with disability & carers to connect with non-disability services, businesses &
community sectors.
• Community Information Directory company (Datadiction) recently updated 800 records of community services, schools and businesses, and disability services which is available on our website. A record update request is sent out annually to services in the Hills LGA. Council is currently investigating if this current system is viable or not.
Regularly update details of vulnerable services listings (e.g.
The Hills Shire Emplan) for people with disability and carers to connect with non-disability services, businesses and community sectors.
• EMPLAN has been recently reviewed and adopted. Document includes updated listings of vulnerable facilities.
ongoing
completed on trackKEY
