1.2 Community events are accessible and inclusive of people with disability. Develop a practice guideline outlining and encouraging the host of community activities to provide activities that are accessible. The practice guideline would be issued to stakeholders in planning for Seniors Week, NAIDOC Week and Youth week programs. Qualitative feedback from event organisers on value of the guideline. Increase in accessible activities offered for Seniors Week, Youth Week, NAIDOC Week with comparisons to previous years. Feedback from the community. 2019 Objective 1.1 Promoting social connections Goal Action How will we measure this Timing to Cessnock 2027
Council collaborates with external organisations to raise awareness within the community on the importance of disability issues, access and inclusion for all. Participate in and/or promote within the community local International Day of People with Disability events. Levels of engagement. Increased participation at local events. Range of promotional materials issued and widely circulated. Ongoing Objective 1.1 Promoting social connections The community is aware of the abilities of all people in the community. Promote within the community public awareness campaigns of the abilities of all people. Range of promotional materials issued and circulation rates. Ongoing Objective 1.2 Strengthening community culture Goal Action How will we measure this Timing Links to Cessnock 2027
Council services are accessible and inclusive of people with disability. Provide with opportunities to participate in disability access and inclusion training, including encouraging staff to be aware of and be proactive in identifying and responding to service barriers. Council staff attendance and participation in training that focusses on access and inclusion. Ongoing Objective 5.3 Making Council more responsive to the community Council publications are inclusive of people with disability. Images of people with disability to be used in mainstream publications and in promotions of community events. Images published in Council documents and promotional material is inclusive of people with disability. Ongoing Objective 1.2 Strengthening community culture Goal Action How will we measure this Timing Links to Cessnock 2027
The community is aware of programs and services available within the Cessnock local government area. Council will continue to provide an online community directory and events calendar. Event programs for example Seniors Week, Youth Week and NAIDOC Week will continue to be promoted within the community and to service providers. Level of usage. Increased services listed. Increased events listed. for community event promotional material. Circulation rates for community event and promotional material within the disability services sector. Ongoing Objective 1.2 Strengthening community culture
Goal Action How will we measure this Timing Links to Cessnock 2027 Council’s workforce is welcoming, respectful, diverse and inclusive of all people. Review the Workforce Management Plan to ensure diversity and inclusion is a consideration in workforce planning. Completion of the review. Ongoing Objective 5.3 Making Council more responsive to the community People with disability are provided with equitable employment opportunities at Council. Undertake an analysis to determine a benchmark for the number of people employed at Council with disability and assess if it is reflective of the demographics for the Cessnock local government area. Completion of benchmarking analysis. Findings of the benchmarking analysis to be considered when developing the Workforce Management Plan. Ongoing Objective 5.3 Making Council more responsive to the community
Goal Action How will we measure this Timing Links to Cessnock 2027 People with disability employed at Council are provided with opportunities for career development. Continue to ensure that staff with disability, have access to training and professional development opportunities. Staff satisfaction with opportunities for career development. Ongoing Objective 5.3 Making Council more responsive to the community Council is a supportive workplace. Council policies and staff induction to continue to provide awareness of flexible work and leave arrangements and the process for applying for such arrangements. Outcome of feedback with staff. Ongoing Objective 5.3 Making Council more responsive to the community
Goal Action How will we measure this Timing to Cessnock 2027 Council provides opportunities for people with disability to engage in the workforce. In collaboration with local disability employment services Council to discuss the provision of volunteer and work placement training programs for people with disability. Outcome of discussions with local service providers. 2020 Objective 5.3 Making Council more responsive to the community Improve and promote access to volunteering opportunities for people with disability across the Cessnock local government area. Promote to services the importance of including and listing volunteering opportunities within the online community directory. Online records list the availability of volunteering opportunities. 2018 Objective 2.2 Achieving more sustainable employment opportunities
Goal Action How will we measure this Timing Links to Cessnock 2027 The employment of people with disability is considered when procuring goods and services. Continue to provide procurement opportunities to suppliers that employ people with disability and/or organisations that support access and inclusion, in accordance with Council’s Procurement Policy. Social justice principles are considered in the procurement of goods and services. Ongoing Objective 2.2 Achieving more sustainable employment opportunities People with disability are employed in a range of jobs across the Cessnock local government area. Council will encourage business to be inclusive employers. A wide range of promotional material is issued. Ongoing Objective 2.2 Achieving more sustainable employment opportunities
Goal Action How will we measure this Timing Links to Cessnock 2027 People have access to resources that assist with job finding and training courses. Promote libraries as an accessible facility with free access to computers and the internet. A wide range of promotional material is issued. Public computers at both Cessnock and Kurri Kurri Libraries are available and used by the public. Ongoing Objective 1.2 Strengthening community culture
Goal Action How will we measure this Timing to Cessnock 2027 The participation of all people in community consultation processes is encouraged. Review Council’s Community Engagement Strategy to ensure all people are included and can access community consultation opportunities. Council’s community engagement plan is inclusive of all people. Council’s community plans identify as part of their consultation methodology, how people with disability were provided opportunity to participate. 2017 Objective 5.2 Encouraging more community participation in decision making Council’s website is accessible for people with disability. Review Council’s website to understand the amendments required and the financial costs in complying with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 at AA level. Outcome of the review of Council’s website. Development of a budget proposal in seeking funding for any software upgrades. 2020 Objective 5.3 Making Council more responsive to the community
Council’s planning instruments reflect local requirements for access and inclusion. Review the Cessnock Development Control Plan to ensure adequate guidance is provided for access requirements. The Development Control Plan is responsive to the community in considering access and inclusion. Qualitative feedback from Council planning staff. Ongoing Objective 5.3 Making Council more responsive to the community Goal Action How will we measure this Timing Links to Cessnock 2027 Customers of Cessnock City Council are provided with a service that is accessible and inclusive. Undertake an audit of the Administration’s Building customer service area to assess and consider opportunities for access improvements. Completion of audit. Findings of the audit implemented. Feedback from the community. Ongoing Objective 5.3 Making Council more responsive to the community
in front line customer service roles are aware of a range of communication methods used by people with hearing or speech impairment. Council to investigate becoming Service Friendly. Staff have awareness of the National Relay Service. 2018 Objective 5.3 Making Council more responsive to the community
4.1 Community members are engaged in Council processes. Investigate the installation of a hearing loop within the Cessnock City Council Chambers. Investigation complete and determination made. 2019 Objective 5.2 Encouraging more community participation in decision making 4.2 constructed Council owned community buildings are designed to be inclusive and accessible. If any new community buildings are to be constructed during the life of this Plan, people with disability will be consulted on building design and accessibility. Accessible features are included in the design. Outcome of feedback from people with disability, carer’s and disability service providers. Once constructed, qualitative feedback from people who use the facility. Ongoing Objective 1.2 Strengthening community culture Goal Action How will we measure this Timing Links to Cessnock 2027
4.3 The Australian Standard for Access and Mobility (AS 1428) is understood by Council staff responsible for community infrastructure. Council staff with responsibility for asset maintenance, revitalisation and/or the planning of new community facilities to be made aware of the Australian Standard for Access and Mobility (AS 1428). AS 1428 distributed to Staff understanding of AS 1428. Building works are compliant with AS 1428. Ongoing Objective 1.2 Strengthening community culture 4.4 The required for existing community facilities to be compliant with the Australian Standard for Access and Mobility (AS 1428) is understood. Where resources and funding allows, undertake audits of community buildings, public toilets and pool facilities to assess compliance with the Australian Standard for Access and Mobility (AS 1428). Completion of audits. Outcome of audits in complying with AS 1428. Works program developed to guide future capital works that improve access to facilities. Ongoing Objective 1.2 Strengthening community culture Goal Action How will we measure this Timing Links to Cessnock 2027
4.5 Council has a capital works program in place for its community and recreation facilities to improve access and inclusion. Council’s Asset Management Plans, Plan of Management, Strategic Documents and Masterplans will identify and program access improvements for community buildings, recreational facilities, including pools and parks, to enable improved access and inclusion. Works program developed. Funding for works budgeted. Required works undertaken. Feedback from the community. Ongoing Objective 1.2 Strengthening community culture Goal Action How will we measure this Timing Links to Cessnock 2027
4.9 The Cessnock local government area is provided with a range of social and health services that meets the needs of the community. Council is a member of a number of networks and includes Cessnock/Kurri Kurri Local Health Advisory Committee, Cessnock Healthy Lifestyle Network and General/Youth Inter-agencies. Council will continue to network and advocate for increased disability, social support and health services. Council is an advocate for increased services being based and/or outreach to the local area. Council participates in a range of collaborative partnerships. Ongoing Objective 4.3 Improving access to health services locally Goal Action How will we measure this Timing Links to Cessnock 2027
4.10 Council is an advocate for affordable and accessible housing options being made available to residents with disability. Council to develop a housing strategy that considers future supply and demand for affordable housing and includes supported accommodation, boarding homes and group homes. Development of housing strategy. Implementation of housing strategy. Project and is for in 2019 Objective 1.2 Strengthening community culture 4.11 Council’s website provides information to the community its community facilities and their access. Council’s website will include a webpage that lists the infrastructure in place that supports people to access Council owned facilities. The community is aware of a range of community facilities and the access supports in place. Feedback from the community and service providers. Number of the webpage is viewed. 2019 Objective 1.2 Strengthening community culture Monitoring and Annual Review of the Plan