As a community, we are stronger with a diverse of viewpoints and perspectives, and as a whole we are enriched through activities that promote inclusion. Inclusion reduces disadvantage, isolation and discrimination. It has far reaching positive impacts across all aspects of life, including health, welfare, education and employment. These impacts are felt beyond the individual, with families and the broader community all being positively impacted by an inclusive society. There are strong economic reasons for increasing the inclusiveness of our society. Analysis indicates that there are significant financial gains for both individuals and for the economy by moving people into productive and fulfilling employment. Although the need for a more inclusive NSW is now better recognised and the benefits for individuals, families, carers and the community increasingly understood, we still have a long way to go. It is time for government, community, businesses and people with disability to work together to make an inclusive NSW a reality." Newcastle City Council's Disability Inclusion Action plan is Council's way of defining how the organisation will make targeted and continual effort to reduce the barriers that people face when living, working and visiting the Newcastle local government area. It documents the steps Council will take in working towards (with regard to access and inclusion) the Newcastle 2030 Community Strategic Vision: "In 2030 Newcastle will be Smart, Liveable and Sustainable City. We will celebrate our unique city and protect our natural assets. We will build resilience in the face of the future and encourage innovation and creativity. As an inclusive community, we will embrace new residents and foster a culture of care. We will be a leading lifestyle city with vibrant public places, connected transport networks and a distinctive environment. And as we make our way toward 2030, we will achieve all this in a framework of open and collaborative leadership." Newcastle is the largest regional centre in NSW and the second largest non-capital urban centre in Australia. The city offers a remarkable and diverse natural environment from coastal headlands and beaches to wetlands, mangrove forests, steep ridges and rainforest gullies. The Newcastle local government area (LGA) has a population of 148,531 people (2011) in an area of 214 square kilometres. Newcastle has been on a journey of significant change as it evolves from an industrial to a post-industrial city led predominantly by the knowledge (eg education, trial
liveability factors such as housing design, transport access, community recreation and social inclusiveness. STRATEGY ACTION OUTCOME DELIVERY Contribute towards liveable and accessible public places Implement a strategic approach to include community at concept design stage on identified projects in public places. Identify priority locations to undertake pedestrian access and mobility plans to inform accessible paths of travel between major facilities and services Undertake an LGA wide assessment of community infrastructure to identify location, design, delivery and management of accessible toilet and change facilities Advocate for access and inclusion to be a guiding principle in the development of plans of management prepared under the Local Government Act, relevant public domain masterplans and the emerging Newcastle Intergenerational Playground Strategy Facilitate specialist training for identified technical staff for access auditing and compliance with relevant codes and standards Identify and promote accessible council venues and infrastructure Procedure developed and implemented on agreed projects Locations identified annually Assessment completed Emerging policy frameworks identified 2016 & Ongoing 2017 Ongoing Continuously upgrade council assets to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act, relevant Australian Standards and the National Construction Code Identify and prioritise public buildings that require access audits in accordance with AS1428.1 - Access to Premises standards Ensure access criteria are included in community service levels that enable the sustainable management of fit for purpose community facilities and assets Priority buildings identified and audits completed Opportunities to provide identified 2016 Ongoing
Promote workplace flexibility options available under the Newcastle Enterprise Agreement to staff who have primary caring responsibilities Fact sheet developed and promoted Provide volunteering opportunities for people with all abilities Review volunteering policy to ensure Council volunteering opportunities are accessible and inclusive Policy reviewed 2017 Identify opportunities to procure goods and services from local business who employ people with a disability Develop a list of Newcastle LGA based business who provide meaningful employment to people with a disability Review procurement policy and procedure to identify options to procure and services from identified businesses List developed and promoted Procedure reviewed 2016 OUTCOME AREA: SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES Council continues to improve its capacity to assist our community to gain access to the information and council services they need to realise full potential .We encourage the community to actively participate and partner with Council for improved decision making and service delivery. STRATEGY ACTION OUTCOME DELIVERY Ensure accessible and inclusive community engagement Audit community engagement policy and processes to deliver improved access and participation in Council community consultations Prepare guidelines promoting continuous improvement principles for staff engaging people with a disability in projects and programs Identify Council publications and communications that are to be made available in multiple formats annually Audit completed guidelines produced. Publications per annum 2016 Ongoing
Promote a culture of responsive customer service Produce guidelines on respectful and effective communication Review Council customer service process to identify barriers to access and communication for community members Review customer feedback and complaint management systems to ensure accessibility and equity for people with a disability Include accessibility as an indicator on customer satisfaction surveys Provide information on National Relay Service to customer service teams Review completed and projects identified and delivered 2017 Continuously improve regulatory processes within the organisation to achieve outcomes for the disability community Develop and promote a publication explaining Council's planning and management of accessible on street parking Monitor compliance with Council's footpath dining licences Provide input on matters of access where relevant to amendments of the Newcastle Development Control Plan Provide advice where appropriate on access and inclusion in the development assessment process Advocate for s.94 (development contributions) funding to be directed to projects which improve access in public places Projects completed annually Ongoing Champion inclusive events and community programs Update Council's event management process and procedures to include access and inclusion criteria and information the Major Event Sponsorship agreement to Review completed and projects identified and delivered 2016