Access & Inclusion Plan 2021-25
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:
- Diverse, inclusive and thriving communities.
- Accessible places and spaces
- 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.
Feedback
CLOSED: The feedback wall has now closed.
Who's Listening
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Phone 1300 MYFREO (1300 693 736) Email info@fremantle.wa.gov.au
Strategic Community Plan Focus Areas (2015-25)
This project delivers under:
[received via direct email from Chris]
I often wonder whether things like a living community for adults with autism will ever be considered for Perth, let alone built. I have asked what will happen to sites such as Edith Cowan University after it moves into the CBD in 2025, as well as things like the old South Fremantle Power Plant (apparently it is heritage listed so it cannot be bulldozed, but because of asbestos it cannot be opened to the public - is there a way to clean the asbestos out???) and social housing seems to be at the bottom of the list of priorities. I understand a new mayor will be elected in October but I don't know if any of them are pushing for more social housing as one of their policies.
Ultimately I think if there was more emphasis on building solutions to help people with autism the rates of homelessness in Perth could drop dramatically. I ask myself how many homeless people get screened for neurodivergent conditions, and if those conditions are disproportionately represented in homeless people that could be the key to understanding exactly how people end up homeless and how to prevent that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb8iHaXag8k
Disability should be the focus;
People with a Disability need to feel included.
So; it should start with a Disability Access & Inclusion plan.