We’ve reviewed and updated our Access and Inclusion Plan, a strategic approach to improve access and inclusion for people over the next four years.

Barriers to access can affect how included and welcome we feel, and whether we’re able to connect with and participate in community life. Inclusion is only possible when communities are inclusive for all people, including culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD), Indigenous and people from the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/gender diverse, queer, intersex, asexual and questioning) communities.

It is a requirement under the Western Australian Disability Services Act 1993 (amended 2004) that local government authorities develop and implement a Disability Access and Inclusion Plan, working to achieve seven legislated outcomes.

Review and development

Our review commenced late 2019 and adapted to the challenges of COVID19. The draft Plan has been developed through evaluation and engagement with an external consultant and a key stakeholder working group representing people with disability, local service providers, community members and advocates.

What’s proposed?

Building on the success of previous initiatives, this Plan provides new opportunities to further ensure that challenges faced by many people living, working in, or visiting the Fremantle community are acknowledged and addressed. At a glance it proposes:

• Three focus areas based on key findings of the review and community engagement process:

1. Diverse, inclusive and thriving communities.
2. Accessible places and spaces
3. Equitable access to City services

• 24 priority actions under these focus areas, with responsibilities assigned across the organisation. Actions where the City has direct control or influence to achieve the legislated outcomes were prioritised for inclusion in the Plan.
• Actions that address our requirements under the Western Australian Disability Services Act 1993 (amended 2004) which includes working to achieve their seven legislated outcomes.
• Proposing an additional (eighth) non-legislated outcome as a commitment from the City to ‘create a welcoming and inclusive city’ and address inclusion and attitudinal (social and environmental) barriers to participation.

Current progress

See the timeline on this page to view what stage we are currently up to.