March 4th, 2023New plan aims to remove barriers

Hepburn Shire Council has a new Disability Action Plan that will guide its actions in removing barriers and making adjustments to help provide an equitable experience for people living with disability.
The plan was developed in partnership with its Disability Advisory Committee, with committee members helping to identify the most meaningful and beneficial priority actions.

The action plan includes a range of priorities, from raising community awareness and encouraging opportunities for employment and inclusion, through to advocating to other levels of government for improved health, housing and transport services.
Deputy Mayor Lesley Hewitt is chair of the council’s Disability Advisory Committee. Cr Hewitt said disability can be different for everyone.
“Disability can mean any kind of impairment, whether existing at birth or acquired through illness, accident, or the ageing process. It ranges from cognitive impairment and physical, sensory, intellectual, and psycho-social disability.
“Individuals may encounter physical barriers, digital barriers and barriers of attitudes and communication that impact on their ability to equitably participate in society. Our focus in this plan is on removing barriers and implementing changes that provide an equitable experience for people with disability,” she said.
The plan covers a range of priorities including inclusive communities, health, housing and wellbeing, fairness and safety, and opportunity and pride.
“A big shift with this plan is the focus on ‘invisible disabilities’ including neurological, cognitive and sensory disabilities,” Cr Hewitt said.
The plan has been created in the context of a raft of changes in recent years, including the review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme, development of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031 and Inclusive Victoria: State disability plan 2022-2026, along with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
The action plan is available at www.hepburn.vic.gov.au