Inclusion & Access Advisory Group

 

 

Meeting Date:     Monday, 24 May, 2021

Location:            Council Chambers, Level 2, City Administrative Building, Bridge Road, Nowra

Time:                   11.00am

 

Please note: Council’s Code of Meeting Practice permits the electronic recording and broadcast of the proceedings of meetings of the Council which are open to the public. Your attendance at this meeting is taken as consent to the possibility that your image and/or voice may be recorded and broadcast to the public.

 

 

Agenda

 

1.    Apologies

2.    Confirmation of Minutes

·      Inclusion & Access Advisory Group - 22 February 2021............................................. 1

3.    Declarations of Interest

4.    Reports

IA21.8.......... Update on Actions - May 2021....................................................................... 6

IA21.9.......... Working Group - Promote and Engage........................................................ 13

IA21.10........ Disability Inclusion Action Plan review - Committee update........................ 16                           

5.    General Business

IA21.11........ Accessible Parking - Milton Showgrounds

Clr Patricia White will address the meeting in relation to representations received from Milton Promotions regarding accessible parking.


Logo, company name

Description automatically generated

 

 Inclusion & Access Advisory Group – Monday 24 May 2021

Page  

 

Membership

Clr Patricia White – Chairperson

Clr Annette Alldrick – Alternate Chairperson

Clr Mark Kitchener

Clr Bob Proudfoot (Alternate member)

Clr Nina Digiglio (Alternate member)

All other Councillors as observers

Chief Executive Officer or nominee

Mr Gareth Ward MP (or nominee)

Ms Annette Pham – (Respresentative Ms Shelley Hancock MP)

Ms Fiona Phillips (Lesley Zandstra)

Ms Jackie Kay AM

Mr Bill Deaves

Mr Neville Foord

Ms Andrea Wallace

Mr Theo Bagou

Mr Arthur Ball

Ms Nola Stephens

Mr Stephen Taylor

Mr Chris Mitchell

Ms Kylie Knight

Ms Penelope Espinoza Hallett

Mr Frederick Oberg

Ms Grace Kennedy – Youth

Ms Lily Wright

Ms Leonie Dippel – Shoalhaven Community Transport

Ms Jodie Hoger – Education Representative (TAFE Illawarra)

Ms Mel Gorman – Spinal Cord Injuries Australia

Mr Murray Hair – Health NSW (Occupational Therapy Department)

FOCAS Shoalhaven (Representative)

Mr Paul Snudden / Ms Ruth Freeland - NDIS

 

Quorum – Five (5)

 

Purpose

To inform, educate and advise Shoalhaven City Council, its staff and residents on accessibility and inclusion with the purpose of creating accessible and inclusive community infrastructure by:

·         Actively engaging with Council on policies,

·         Inputting on submissions and relevant legislation affecting accessibility and inclusion

·         Being a conduit for information and communication between community and Council,

·         Raising awareness in the Council, with its staff and in the community around inclusion and accessibility issues

 


 

 

 

 

Minutes of the Inclusion & Access Advisory Group

 

 

Meeting Date:     Monday, 22 February 2021

Location:            Council Chambers / Microsoft Teams

Time:                   11.00am

 

 

The following members were present:

 

Clr Patricia White - Chairperson

Mr Bill Deaves

Mr Theo Bagou – (Remotely)

Mr Arthur Ball – (Remotely)

Ms Nola Stephens

Ms Annette Pham – (Shelley Hancock MP – Representative) – arrived 11.06am

Mr Chris Mitchell

Ms Kylie Knight

Mr Frederick Oberg – (Remotely)

Mr Michael Paine – Manager - Community Connections

 

Others present:

 

Colin Wood – Section Manager – Building and Compliance

Hayden Fineran – Community Capacity Builder - North

Lily Wright - Observer

 

 

Apologies / Leave of Absence

An apology was received from Clr Digiglio.

 

 

Confirmation of the Minutes

RESOLVED (Frederick Oberg / Nola Stephens)

That the Minutes of the Inclusion & Access Advisory Group held on Monday 14 December 2020 be confirmed.

CARRIED

 

 

Declarations of Interest

Nil

 

 

 

 

Reports

 

IA21.1        Membership Application

HPERM Ref: D21/27656

Clr White welcomed Lily Wright (Remotely) to the meeting.

Recommendation

That Council appoint Lily Wright as a community member of the Inclusion & Access Advisory Group.

 

REcommendation (Kylie Knight / Chris Mitchell)

That Council appoint Lily Wright as a community member of the Inclusion & Access Advisory Group.

CARRIED

 

 

IA21.2        Update on Actions - February 2021

HPERM Ref: D21/20657

Note: Annette Pham arrived at 11.06am.

Staff addressed the meeting in relation to the items in the Action Table and made the following comments:

·    IA19.5 – Additional Item Disability Awareness Training – Councillors – Clr Training & Development Program – Training and Development are working together to strengthen the training to ensure a good outcome. Action to remain open.

·    IA19.21 – Ulladulla Subway and Services NSW Accessible Parking Investigation – This matter is ongoing.

·    IA20.6 – Update on Action – August Promotion / Engagement Working Group Formation – An EOI went out to members who were interested in being a part of the Working Group. At the time one (1) response was received. The following members advised that they will be interested in attending the Workshop on Tuesday 2 March at 10.00am:

Clr White

Annette Pham

Frederick Oberg

Nola Stephens

Chris Mitchell

·    IA20.13 – Moona Moona Creek Huskisson Playground Assessment Panels – Updated comment in Action Table, recommended to be removed.

·    IA20.14 – Additional Item – Consider Annual Disability Awareness Training for Councillors and Staff

·    Michael Paine advised he will work with HR department in relation to finding out statistics on targeted employment for Aboriginal people and people with disabilities.

 

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That

1.    The Inclusion & Access Advisory Group receive the Update on Actions report for information.

2.    The following actions be noted as completed and removed from the Action Table:

a.    IA20.13 - Moona Moona Creek Huskisson Playground - Report Received - Inclusion & Access Advisory Group Staff Representative - Playground Assessment Panels

RESOLVED (Arthur Ball / Kylie Knight)

That

1.    The Inclusion & Access Advisory Group receive the Update on Actions report for information.

2.    The following actions be noted as completed and removed from the Action Table:

a.    IA20.13 - Moona Moona Creek Huskisson Playground - Report Received - Inclusion & Access Advisory Group Staff Representative - Playground Assessment Panels

CARRIED

 

GENERAL BUSINESS

 

IA21.3        Additional Item - Investigate opportunity for targeted employment for people with disabilities.

During discussion on the Action Table the Group discussed the opportunity of targeted employment within Council.

The group also discussed the importance of mandatory annual training programs such as WHS, Drug and Alcohol and Disability Awareness. Michael Paine advised he will investigate and report back if those types of training programs are mandatory.

RECOMMENDATION (Kylie Knight / Arthur Ball)

That:

1.    Council investigate the opportunity for targeted employment within Council for people with identified disabilities.

2.    The Inclusion and Access Advisory Group receive a report back on the statistics of council’s employment.

3.    Staff source resource options and budgets for annual training programs.

CARRIED

 

IA21.4        Additional Item - Urgent Footpath and Curb Ramp Repairs

Bill Deaves advised that there are a number of footpath and curb ramps that require urgent maintenance and/or repair as they are unsafe and steep.

 

RECOMMENDATION (Bill Deaves / Arthur Ball)

That Council:

1.    Make urgent representations to Fulton Hogan in relation to the deteriorating footpath from Nowra Aquatic Park to Bridge Road, Nowra which needs urgent repairs to meet AS1428.

2.    Investigate the curb ramps and undertake all necessary work to ensure a safe crossing and that it meets AS1428:

a.    On the corner of Hyams Street and Bridge Road, Nowra (northern side); and

b.    Bridge Road near the Fire Brigade (northern side)

CARRIED

 

 

IA21.5        Additional Item - Investigate Accessible Car Spaces

The members raised concerns in relation to a number of cases where people without a disabled sticker were parking in the marked accessible parking spaces.

 

RECOMMENDATION (Nola Stephens / Theo Bagou)

That Council investigate the carparks in Nowra and near the Roxy Cinema, Stocklands and on the southern side of Junction Street for the accessible car parking spaces and where additional spaces could be provided and receive a report back.

CARRIED

 

 

IA21.6        Additional Item - Ramp Exits from Stocklands and Accessible Spaces at Kmart Ulladulla

Members raised concerns regarding the ramp exits from Stocklands advising they are too steep. The ramps would have met the Australian Standards back when it was built, however the ramps are now too steep.

Members also raised concerns regarding the size of the accessible spaces at Kmart Ulladulla, advising they are too narrow.

 

RECOMMENDATION (Frederick Oberg / Theo Bagou)

That Council investigate and report back on the:

1.    Ramps exiting Stocklands to identify if they meet AS1428 and report back.

2.    Accessible parking spaces at Kmart Ulladulla that are reportedly too narrow.

CARRIED

 

 

IA21.7        Additional Item - Funding income for Accessible Parking Fines

RECOMMENDATION (Chris Mitchell / Bill Deaves)

That Council:

1.    Set aside the income collected from accessible parking spaces fines with a view to improving disability facilities across the city & support the implementation of actions with the Disability Inclusion Action Plan.

2.    Staff provide a quarterly report in relation to the income collected.

CARRIED

 

 

 

There being no further business, the meeting concluded, the time being 12.26pm.

 

 

Clr Patricia White

CHAIRPERSON

 

 


 

 Inclusion & Access Advisory Group – Monday 24 May 2021

Page 0

 

 

IA21.8        Update on Actions - May 2021

 

HPERM Ref:       D21/87705

 

Department:       Community Connections

Approver:           Jane Lewis, Director - City Lifestyles 

Attachments:     1.  Action Table Update - May 2021   

Reason for Report

To provide the Inclusion & Access Advisory Group with a progress report on outstanding actions.

 

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That

1.    The Inclusion & Access Advisory Group receive the Update on Actions report for information.

 

 

Options

1.    Adopt the recommendation as written.

Implications: The Inclusion & Access Advisory Group is updated on progress of actions and recommendations made at previous meetings.

 

2.    Request more information.

Implications: Members of the Inclusion & Access Advisory Group request further information.

 

 

Background

This report is to update the Inclusion & Access Advisory Group on outstanding actions from previous meetings.  Attachment 1 provides information regarding the status of actions and resolutions made at previous meetings, including items which are still in works. Should IAAG members require further information on the status of the actions in the table attached Council staff will provide as requested.

 

Community Engagement

It is important that the members of the Inclusion & Access Advisory Group are kept informed on progress towards the completion of actions and projects. This report provides a structured approach to facilitate this information exchange.

 


 

 Inclusion & Access Advisory Group – Monday 24 May 2021

Page 0

 

PDF Creator


 

PDF Creator


 

PDF Creator


 

PDF Creator


 

PDF Creator


 

PDF Creator

 


 

 Inclusion & Access Advisory Group – Monday 24 May 2021

Page 0

 

 

IA21.9        Working Group - Promote and Engage

 

HPERM Ref:       D21/187073

 

Department:       Community Connections

Approver:           Jane Lewis, Director - City Lifestyles 

Reason for Report

To update the Committee on the working group formed to discuss how the Inclusion and Access Advisory Group (IAAG) would like to promote and engage with the broader community.

 

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That

1.    The Committee endorse the proposed actions developed by the working group as stated below.

a.    Increased promotion of the IAAG and its functions.

b.    Increased promotion of people with a disability within the Shoalhaven via inclusive and positive social media/media campaign

c.    Increased committee membership through a membership expression of interest (EOI)

2.    Council develops an EOI application to increase membership for the Committee.

3.    The Committee endorse a Planning Day, scheduled after a completed membership recruitment period.

 

 

Options

1.    The committee endorse the actions as stated in the report. 

Implications: The Committee will endorse the stated recommendations to promote and engage with the community and run a membership EOI to recruit new members. 

 

2.    The Committee do not endorse the proposed actions.

Implications: The proposed recommendations are not endorsed, and the Committee advise alternative recommendations

 

 

Background

In 2020 an EOI was sent to IAAG seeking interest from members to participate in a working group to determine how the Committee would like to promote and engage more effectively with the broader community. Following this, at the IAAG meeting in February 2021 it was resolved that the working group would meet on Tuesday 2nd of March 2021 for 90 minutes to discuss how they would like to promote the IAAG and identify ways to engage with the wider community more effectively.

 

Attendance at the Working Group.

-     Patricia White – IAAG Chairperson

-     Fred Oberg – IAAG member

-     Annette Pham – IAAG member

-     Chris Mitchell – IAAG member

-     Nola Stephens – IAAG member

-     Hayden Fineran – Council representative

-     Carly McWalters – Council representative

 

The agenda for the workshop was as follows:

1.   What got us to this point?

2.   What are we currently doing?

3.   What would we like to do as a Committee?

4.   How do we get where we want to go?

5.   Who needs to be involved? Who are the stakeholders?

 

Promotion and Engagement

The working group met at the Shoalhaven Indoor Sports Centre and discussed a range of topics on how to better promote IAAG and identified various ways to engage better with the community.  The group identified the below.

 

·    There is a lack of inclusion of IAAG Committee Members at Council civic events and official openings.

·    There is a lack of media around issues discussed at Committee Meetings.

·    There is a lack of inclusive promotion from Council in social media and published media.

·    The Committee would benefit from a more diverse membership, for example a broader range of ages, Aboriginal and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) representation.

·    More inclusive resources to promote tourism in the Shoalhaven.

·    There needs to be increased promotion in Council’s media about the visibility of people with a disability and celebrating inclusion.

 

From these discussions, themes where then collated into three strategies and supporting actions and outcomes see table below:

 

 

Strategies

Actions

Measure

S1

Increased promotion of the Inclusion and Access Advisory Group (IAAG).

A1.1

IAAG members are invited to official openings hosted by Council.

A1.2

Media releases to be developed highlighting key issues and hot topics raised during IAAG meetings.

1.1

Number of IAAG members invited to official openings.

1.2

Number of media releases developed on topics raised at IAAG meetings.

S2

Increased promotion of people with a disability within the Shoalhaven.

A2.1

Increased inclusive impact news stories of people with a disability in Council’s media.

2.1

Number of news stories of people with a disability published in Council media.

S3

Raising membership of the Inclusion and Access Advisory group.

A3.1

Development of an Expression of Interest application and membership campaign to increase membership of the IAAG.

3.1

Running a membership campaign for the IAAG that is available in accessible formats for the whole community.

3.1

Number of new member applications received.

 

IAAG Planning Day

 

In addition to the above topics the Working Group identified ways that they can take a more inclusive, collaborative, and strategic approach to increase the desired outcomes and positive impacts for community and Committee members.

 

It was decided that in order to give these topics appropriate time to be discussed in full, Council’s Community Connections Department are proposing an IAAG Planning Day following the recruitment of new members. The purpose of this planning day will be to review the Terms of Reference and explore the above topics in more depth to set direction for the next 12-24 months.

 


 

 Inclusion & Access Advisory Group – Monday 24 May 2021

Page 0

 

 

IA21.10      Disability Inclusion Action Plan review - Committee update

 

HPERM Ref:       D21/188144

 

Department:       Community Connections

Approver:           Jane Lewis, Director - City Lifestyles 

Attachments:     1.  Disability Inclusion Action Plan - Community Survey

2.  Disability Inclusion Action Plan - Community Consultation Poster   

Reason for Report

To update the Committee on the review of the Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) and community consultation.

 

Recommendation (Item to be determined under delegated authority)

That:

1.    The Inclusion and Access Advisory Group receive this report for information.

 

 

Options

1.    The Committee accept the recommendation as written above

Implications: the report is received for information.

 

2.    The Committee do not accept the report.

Implications: the committee request further information.

 

Background

Shoalhaven City Council began the review of the Shoalhaven DIAP in late 2020 in line with Local Government responsibilities under the Disability Inclusion Act 2014.

The first step in the process was to engage a Consultant to deliver the review and subsequent development of the DIAP Action Table. A public Request for Quotation (RFQ) was advertised via the Tenderlink portal, and local and regional newspapers.

An assessment panel was formed to review the RFQ submissions and select a Consultant, this was made up of three Council Staff from the City Lifestyles Directorate and a member of the IAAG.  The IAAG member was selected for the panel through an EOI sent to all IAAG members.

The EOI consisted of five short questions:

1.   What is your understanding of Disability Inclusion Action Plans?

2.   What do you see the role of the Inclusion and Access Advisory Group being in the review of the DIAP?

3.   Do you have experience on assessment panels?

4.   Can you identify any potential conflicts of interested arising if you are a part of the assessment process?

5.   Please rank the following from 1 to 5 for what you consider to be the most important aspect when reviewing possible consultants. 1 being most important and 5 being least important.

·      Demonstrated experience of the bidder in performing services as required for the review.

·      The proposed methodology to deliver the services.

·      Qualifications, demonstrated past experience and expertise of key personnel.

·      Bidder’s current commitment and availability/capability to deliver works/services within specified timeframes.

·      Cost

 

Three members of the IAAG responded to the EOI and Kylie Knight was chosen to sit on the assessment panel for the evaluation of the consultancy submissions.

The RFQ received five submissions and the successful submission was awarded to The Flagstaff Group in February 2021. The Flagstaff Group are a not-for-profit organisation who re-invests all profits back into the lives of people living with a disability by providing entry opportunities into the workforce and life skills training in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.

 

Consultation & Engagement

To ensure the revised DIAP and Action Table are responsive to the needs of the Shoalhaven LGA, Council are undertaking consultations with various sections of the community. As well as an internal consultation with Council staff, Directors and Councillors a community consultation is being conducted which will involve surveys, community workshops and one on one interviews with key organisations and businesses across the LGA.

 

Internal Consultation

The internal consultation with representatives from across the Council will include invitations to all staff, Councillors, and group Directors.  This will ensure that all levels of Council are committed to delivering on future actions and responsibilities under the Disability Inclusion Act once the DIAP is adopted by Council. This process will also set expectations for community consultations and requirements when developing the new DIAP. 

The following internal consultation is being undertake.

·    One on one conversations with the CEO and each Director from which The Flagstaff Group will determine outcomes, challenges, threats, and opportunities for the review of the DIAP.

·    An Expression of Interest (EOI) to all Council staff, seeking participation in 2 x 90-minute workshops/focus groups to contribute to the DIAP review process. In addition to this a targeted EOI has been conducted to ensure key Council stakeholders are included in these discussions.

·    Surveys and ongoing feedback opportunities throughout the development of the plan.

·    A management representative from each of the 5 Directorates and Shoalhaven Water will participate in a Project Control Group to guide the review and to monitor DIAP actions once the DIAP has been adopted to ensure accountability on actions and reporting is aligned.

This internal consultation will ensure senior management, middle management, and operational staff from across the organisation have an opportunity for input with the aim of developing a DIAP that has support from the whole organisation from the point of project inception.

Community Consultation

Community consultation for the review of the DIAP was launched the second week of May 2021 and will close 7th July 2021. Community consultation will take place over nine weeks to ensure community have maximum time to complete the survey.

 

To support community consultation, Council and Flagstaff have developed four surveys for Community, Business, Council staff and Councillors. The community and business surveys have been made available on Council’s website. These are available in easy read and standard publication formats. To view the web page visit:

https://getinvolved.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/diap-2021

 

A full graphic collateral and Mayoral Launch video have been developed to support the launch and promotion of the community consultation. Radio, newspaper, media releases and the dissemination of posters and flyers have also been rolled out around Council facilities throughout the Shoalhaven.

 

To support the community in accessing this consultation Council are available to support any requests for help to complete the survey via a one-on-one phone conversation, in person meeting or alternative can attend one of several community workshops and focus groups across the Shoalhaven. Community workshops and focus groups are being held in Nowra, Bay and Basin and Ulladulla, throughout June, these are open to all members of community.

Council is also hosting nine targeted focus groups with the following groups/networks: 

1.   Employee and families’

2.   Shoalhaven Early Intervention Network

3.   Shoalhaven Disability Forum

4.   Indigenous working group

5.   Shoalhaven Inclusion & Access Advisory Group

6.   Shoalhaven Self Advocacy Group

7.   Aboriginal working group

8.   NAIDOC

9.   Parkinson’s Shoalhaven

10. Aged Care Providers Network

These nine workshops will provide crucial input from service providers, community organisations, family and carers, employees, and our Aboriginal community members from across the Shoalhaven who are involved in the disability support space.

Next Steps

The IAAG will continue to be kept informed of the DIAP review process. Following the Council and community consultation, Flagstaff will conduct a review of the existing DIAP and develop a Draft Action Table informed by the identified needs and aspirations of the community. The Draft DIAP will be presented to the IAAG and Councillors to gain support prior to going on public exhibition where Council will seek final comment from the community on the Draft DIAP.

 


 

 Inclusion & Access Advisory Group – Monday 24 May 2021

Page 0

 

PDF Creator


 

PDF Creator


 

PDF Creator


 

PDF Creator


 

PDF Creator


 

PDF Creator


 

PDF Creator


 

PDF Creator


 

PDF Creator


 

PDF Creator


 

 Inclusion & Access Advisory Group – Monday 24 May 2021

Page 0

 

PDF Creator