Facilitate and support the continued development of education and employment pathways for people with disabilities. Ensure access to all existing Hume City Council community facilities. Explore funding opportunities and partnerships to enhance integrated and specific programs for people with disabilities. Continue to offer Job Preparation Programs to assist people who have experienced barriers to employment due to mental health. Support the implementation of the Department of Human Services (DHS) Structured Training Program to train and casually employ local DHS Clients. Develop key recruitment strategies encouraging participation for Indigenous and under-represented groups. Enhance the accessibility of Council facilities through rolling audits and improvements under the Disability Action Plan Capital Works Program. Explore a minimum of 5 grants and partnership opportunities annually. Conduct a minimum of 30 interviews annually and target 20 job placements annually. Minimum of 10 people attending training program annually. Minimum of five people from disadvantaged or culturally diverse backgrounds provided with the opportunity to participate in employment programs (traineeships) annually. Minimum of 3 Council facilities per year to have full access works carried out to address accredited Disability Access Audit reports. Advocacy Engage our community and foster participation of people with disabilities in civic life of the City. Support Hume Disability Issues Group through governance and advocacy training. Provide training and community education forums to support people with disabilities to obtain skills that support self-advocacy. 3 professional development training sessions held annually. 3 advocacy and/or community forums held annually.
IMPLEMENTATION PLAN INFORM People with disabilities whether physical, mental or intellectual, are best served when information of existing supports is communicated in several formats, catering to the varying abilities of our residents. An informed and aware community enhances the opportunities for people with disabilities to reduce barriers and therefore increase participation in social and economic life. Enhancing knowledge within Council of the needs and capabilities of people with disabilities advances the opportunities for informed communication and service provision. The timely and appropriate distribution and collection of information will be a key activity for Council. Objective 1: Promote respect and recognition of people with disabilities through enhanced communication between Council, people with disabilities, their carers and the broader community. Strategy Action Responsibility Timeline Outcome 1.1 Inform community members and service providers about the role of Council and the services provided. 1.1.1 Develop a HCC Branding Style Guide including accessible guidelines. Lead: Marketing and Communications July 2012 Improved access to Council information. 1.1.2 Introduce guidelines for use of symbols on printed documents and Council signage to identify accessibility for Council services. Lead: Marketing and Communications Supported by: Customer Service 2013 Improved access to Council information. 1.1.3 Continue to improve Council’s websites to include accessible formats. Lead: Organisation Planning and Improvement Supported by: Learning Community Leisure and Youth Services Ongoing Increase usage of Councils website by people with disabilities. 1.1.4 Review and update biannually the HCC Disability Directory. Lead: Social Development 2012 2014 2016 HCC Disability Directory updated biannually. 1.1.5 Develop a Social Policy to enhance Council’s information distribution. Lead: Marketing and Communications 2012 Social Media Policy developed and implemented.
Strategy Action Responsibility Timeline Outcome 1.2 Inform Council of ongoing and emerging needs of people with disabilities. 1.2.1 Continue to support and expand the HCC Disabilities Issues Group. Lead: Social Development Annually Number of events / activities offered in partnership. 1.2.2 Use social networking opportunities to engage with Council services, programs and festivals. Lead: Marketing and Communications Supported by: Social Development Leisure and Youth Services Learning Community Ongoing Increased awareness of Council services, programs and festivals. 1.2.3 Council staff disability awareness training needs and link training to My Hume Review staff appraisal process. Lead: Human Resources Supported by: Social Development and Customer Service 2014 Increase awareness to develop information and services in more accessible and disability friendly formats. 1.2.4 Develop and implement programs and activities that increase Council Officer interaction with community members and service providers. Lead: Social Development Supported by: Leisure and Services; Aged Services; Public Health; Family and Children’s Services; Learning Community; and Customer Service Ongoing Programs and activities provided to increase staff engagement with community and enhance Council knowledge. 1.2.5 Explore opportunities within Council services to improve data collection to increase knowledge and evidence of community Lead: Research Supported by: Social Development; Family and Children’s Services; Aged Services and Public Health; and Customer Service 2012, ongoing Disability Snap Shot includes HCC service and program usage data.
1.3 Inform the broader community about the needs and abilities of people with disabilities. 1.3.1 Accessibility is addressed as part of the planning stage for events and festivals. Lead: Marketing and Communications Ongoing Events and festivals are accessible and inclusive. 1.3.1Develop and implement age appropriate integrated events, programs and training to provide opportunities for interaction between people with disabilities and the broader community. Lead: Social Development Supported by: Leisure and Services; Aged Services and Public Health; Learning Community; Family and Children’s Services; Economic Development; and Marketing and Communications Ongoing Programs and activities provided to increase interaction between people with disabilities and the broader community. 1.3.2 Through the Health and Community Service Alliance – develop a Disability Partnership Network for service providers to enhance referral pathways. Lead: Social Development Supported by: Aged Services and Public Health 2012, ongoing Increased knowledge and partnerships developed to enhance services. 1.3.3 Distribute the Accessible Business Guide to the local business community and service providers highlighting their responsibility to provide accessible buildings. Lead: Social Development Supported by: Economic Development; and Infrastructure Planning 2012, ongoing businesses are accessible. “Council needs to be welcoming to people with disabilities… things like the symbols and access ramps indicate that I’m welcome”
Economic Development; and Sustainable Environment 2.1.4 Liaise with sporting clubs and explore continued opportunities to include recreation programs for people with disabilities. Lead: Leisure and Youth Services Supported by: Learning Communities Ongoing Increased number of sport and recreation programs offered to people with disabilities. 2.1.5 As part of the Access All Abilities Program, continue to upgrade equipment in Council’s leisure facilities that supports participation in activities offered. Lead: Leisure and Youth Services Ongoing People with disabilities participating in a range of leisure centre activities. 2.2 Facilitate and support the continued development of education and employment pathways for people with disabilities. 2.2.1 Established key recruitment strategies to encourage participation for indigenous and under represented groups (Hume City Council People and Culture Strategy 2011) Lead: Resources Supported by: Economic Development and Social Development Traineeship opportunities for people with disabilities. 2.2.2 Initiate the ‘Jobs and Skills Council’, encouraging membership from key internal and external stakeholders to advance the ‘Local Jobs for Local People’ initiative to include employment pathways for people with disabilities. Lead: Economic Development Supported by: Social Development 2012 Increased economic participation of people with disability. Increased employment opportunities being offered to people with disabilities by employers and business.
Strategy Action Responsibility Timeline Outcome 2.2.3 Support the implementation of the Department of Human Services (DHS) Structured Training Program to train and casually employ local DHS clients. Lead: Economic Development Supported by: Human Resources 2012 Number of people attending the training program. Number of people employed. 2.2.4 Continue to support the Early Employment and Learning Committee 3047 and 3429 to assist people with disabilities to access employment. Lead: Economic Development Supported by: Social Development 2012 Number of people with disabilities assisted. “…I’m tired of volunteering my time and it never leading anywhere… I’m capable of working so give me a job so that I can earn money and afford to participate in living” Strategy Action Responsibility Timeline Outcome 2.2.5 Promote the Broadmeadows Employment &Training Program (BEAT), job support service, to people with disabilities. Lead: Economic Development 2012 People with disabilities participate in the program. 2.2.6 Include recognition of local businesses employing people with disabilities in the HCC Business Awards. Lead: Economic Development Supported by: Social Development 2013 Reward, recognition and promotion of the business community advancing employment opportunities. 2.2.7 Develop a fact promoting opportunities of employing people with disabilities and discuss with the business community during industry visits. Lead: Economic Development Supported by: Social Development 2013 Increase awareness of the opportunities to employ people with disabilities.
2.2.8 Continue to offer Job Preparation Programs to assist people who have experienced barriers to employment due to mental health. Lead: Economic Development 2012 Number of people completing the program. 2.3 Ensure access to buildings, open space and transport by ensuring consideration of people with disabilities at the planning and implementation stage of new developments and initiatives. 2.3.1 Consult the HCC Disability Issues Group and conduct access audits by an accredited Access Audit Consultant at planning and sign off stage for all new Council buildings. Lead: Statutory Planning Supported by: Infrastructure Planning; Social Development; and Transit City & Urban Design 2012 All new Council buildings built to DDA standards. 2.3.2 Enhance the accessibility of Council facilities through rolling audits and improvements under the Capital Disability Action Plan Capital Works. Lead: Services Supported by: Infrastructure Planning and Social Development Existing Council facilities accessible and meeting DDA standards 2.3.3 Provide work place access audits and work place adaption in Council work places to provide a safe and accessible workplace for staff of all abilities Lead: Human Resources Supported by Social Development; Customer Service and Services 2014 Accessible and adaptable workplace for all at Hume City Council. 2.3.4 Incorporate planning for high quality and accessible walking and cycling infrastructure and connections into the planning Lead: Strategic Planning Supported by: Leisure and Services and Open Space Infrastructure Planning 2013 All new pathways developed within access guidelines.
scheme and MSS review. Traffic and Civic Design; and Transit City & Urban Design 2.3.5 Establish standards for accessible open space as part of the review of Councils Guidelines for Planning, Design and Construction of Open Space Development Principles for Recreation and Community and Facilities (Hume City Council Playspace Strategy Lead: Strategic Planning Supported by: Leisure and Youth Services Infrastructure Planning Traffic and Design and Open Space Social Development; and Transit City & Urban Design 2013 Accessible standards developed and implemented. 2.3.6 Support the review of existing and potential community transport initiatives to determine a rational and priorities for funding. Lead: Social Development Supported by: Strategic Planning 2014 Community transport opportunities extended across Hume City. 2.3.7 Develop a Transport Access Guide for Council’s major facilities to identify and promote alternative and accessible travel options. Lead: Strategic Planning Supported by: Sustainable Environment Infrastructure planning Traffic and Design Learning Communities 2013 Transport Access Guide to Council facilities developed and distributed. 2.4 Continual review and improvement of access to Council services to ensure accessibility issues are addressed. 2.4.1 Implementation of the Human Service Planning Framework considering accessibility for Council services. Lead: Social Development 2012, ongoing Council’s Disability Access Framework implemented across the organisation to ensure service requirements are considered.