DISABILITY INCLUSION ACTION PLAN REPORT
Introduction
The NSW Disability Inclusion Act 2014 (DIA) mandates the development of Disability Inclusion Action Plans (DIAP) by individual state government agencies and by local government authorities. It builds on existing social equity requirements within the Integrated Planning and Reporting (IP&R) framework to strengthen local government commitment to inclusion, consultation and rights for people with disability. The DIAP is a way for council to work towards a fully inclusive community that can benefit from the services and facilities council provides.
The Hills Shire Council’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2022-2026
The Hills Shire DIAP 2022-2026 reflects the disability principles set out in the Disability Inclusion Act. The plan was developed in consultation with our community, with an emphasis on engaging with people with disability. The actions will help guide our decisions and inform our processes to ensure the services and facilities council provides are as accessible to and appropriate for all people, including those with a disability, as can reasonably be achieved.
Key outcome areas of our DIAP (the 4 pillars of inclusion)
The 4 pillars contained in the NSW Government guidelines for council for inclusion represent and raise a number of barriers that impact on a person with disability’s right to choice and control. Only by removing these barriers can we then provide outcomes that are inclusive, dignified and equitable and in doing so, we create better inclusion outcomes that benefit everyone.
The 4 pillars of inclusion are:
1. positive community attitudes and behaviours
2. liveable communities
3. supporting access to meaningful employment
4. accessible systems and processes.
Positive Attitudes & BEHAVIOURS
OUR ACTIONS PROGRESS STATUS
Develop and incorporate disabilityspecific awareness content that builds knowledge of different disability types and disability inclusion practices into the staff training program and upskills leaders to support staff with disability.
Create regular opportunities for the ongoing promotion of disability, accessibility and inclusion initiatives across council communications channels for the life of the plan.
• Discussions were held with the HR & Wellbeing team regarding training for the Customer Services team. Awaiting on program options from HR & Wellbeing team.
• All of the Leadership team have engaged in a leadership toolbox series in EEO. These sessions focused on the importance of complying with this requirement throughout the recruitment and ongoing employment process. ongoing
• A dedicated web page has been created for the DIAP Reference Group.
• Existing web page for disability support and inclusion to be reviewed.
• Consistently promote DIAP progress when milestone reached.
• Consistently promote good news stories related to disability on council socials including upgrade of Livvi’s Place, Waves accessibility, Social Stories for events, grants, etc.
• Social media posts targeting individuals with disabilities are also presented in an easy-to-read format and shared separately from other events to enhance clarity. ongoing
Ensure new policies and procedures are accessible and inclusive for people with disability.
• All policies and procedures are currently available to be viewed on the staff portal. ongoing
OUR ACTIONS PROGRESS
Link with Sydney Hills Business Chamber to promote better inclusion of people with disability across local businesses.
Raise awareness at various community events across the year to celebrate, educate and share stories related to disability.
• Council introduced a new Disability Inclusion Award category in this year’s Sydney Hills Local Business Awards. The award recognised 2 local businesses for their outstanding contributions to inclusively. In partnership with the Sydney Hills Business Chamber, council featured the 2 award winners in our Business Spotlight Program podcast series, highlighting their achievements and promoting inclusive practices.
• Council conducted a focus group with local businesses as part of the annual Business Performance Sentiment Index (PSI) survey, including a question to gauge current business efforts in inclusively for people with disabilities.
• Together with the Sydney Hills Business Chamber, council organised a job pathway forum for local businesses. The forum had a special focus on employing young people with disabilities and preparing them for the workforce through work placements and traineeships.
• Council actively collaborated with the Sydney Hills Business Chamber to promote better access and inclusion for people with disabilities. They ensure that hosted events are held in accessible venues and support initiatives enhancing inclusively.
• Promoting good news stories relating to disability.
• Promotes International Day for People with Disability across social channels including guest presenters and speakers with lived experience of disability.
• Council uses Social Stories to provide guidance on social behaviour in specific settings for events, especially for neurodivergent individuals. It is promoted on council’s website and social media channels.
STATUS
Establish a community DIAP Reference Group to support DIAP actions.
• Council has also included sensory sessions at the Mayor’s Christmas Party and Easter Egg Hunt, breakout quiet spaces at Australia Day and OBF events. ongoing
• DIAP Reference Group established and consists of 7 people spanning experts working in the field, people with disability and carers.
• The EOI opening for council’s disability reference group marks a huge step forward in working to create a better community for those with a disability. This group will inform council on how they can offer more to the disability community and create a more inclusive and diverse space.
• Council has begun making changes per the group’s recommendations, including making social media clearer for people with disabilities.
Liveable COMMUNITIES
OUR ACTIONS PROGRESS
Support events and initiatives that increase community participation of people with disability.
• The inclusion of social stories for all major events has allowed council to engage better with people with disability in the LGA. Council’s events are more inclusive and feedback has been positive.
• Grant funding awarded to Fit Kidz Foundation (Stronger Together) - a not-for-profit early intervention service which supports children with autism or other developmental disabilities, their families and the local community.
• Waves event held on International Day of People with a Disability December 2023.
• Auslan Interpreter at Australia Day. The inclusion of Emma Memma at OBF Night Markets.
• Produce Social Stories to support people with disability across all major council events including Orange Blossom Festival and Australia Day.
• Established break-out zone for neurodivergent children at Mayor’s Christmas Party and OBF Night Markets and Parade.
• Disability viewing area at Women’s World Cup live site, Australia Day 2024, OBF Night Markets and Parade.
• Selected event providers that employ people living with a disability.
STATUS
• Council received a grant from the Australian Sports Commission to run school holiday sporting programs for children and young people with disability. The programs will be held in different sports each school holidays from July 2024 - October 2025. ongoing
Develop a resource that provides access and inclusion information for council owned facilities, open spaces and workplaces to facilitate dignified access and experience for staff and community members with disability.
• Our website has filters that show facilities with accessibility / disability friendly options.
• Developed a web page for disability, support and inclusion which includes dedicated information related to council’s DIAP, the DIAP Reference Group, disability services and other disability relevant information.
• Council’s parks and recreation directory and venue bookings website are continually reviewed to ensure information around disability access remains current. ongoing
OUR ACTIONS PROGRESS
Support artists, performers and athletes with disability.
• Run an annual event for International Day for People with Disability. Engaged person with disability to speak at the event in 2023.
• Promote annual community grants program to local community groups. Disability space acknowledged as one of the target areas.
• Booked Emma Memma to perform at OBF Night Markets on 7 September 2024 . Emma has an Auslan Interpreter at all her shows and uses expressive effort in movement.
STATUS
ongoing
Identify and prioritise upgrades to footpaths and parking infrastructure to improve accessibility in established areas.
• Council integrates accessibility criteria into the development of its prioritised footpath delivery program. This includes investigations and audits of existing footpaths and parking facilities, as well as consulting on projects and proposals to obtain community feedback which includes specific accessibility challenges within the community.
• Upgrades which improve accessibility in established areas include new footpaths, renewal of existing footpaths, tactile indicators at bus stops, clear signage, and local area traffic management facilities including crossings.
ongoing
Engage as needed with the DIAP Reference Group on council infrastructure projects.
• A project plan to purchase a new accessible lift to be made available for the stage within the Pioneer Theatre is being reviewed by the DIAP Reference Group.
ongoing
Supporting access to MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT
OUR ACTIONS PROGRESS
Create pathways for people with disability to gain employment with the council through partnerships with disability employment organisations.
Undertake a recruitment review to remove unintentional barriers for people with disability and increase opportunities for all roles to be inclusive.
Promote council’s inclusive practices and initiatives on public facing careers pages and external communication channels to encourage people with disability to apply for roles.
Include questions in the annual staff survey to understand current inclusion experience, flexible work practices, workplace adjustment needs, and interest in participation in inclusion events and initiatives.
STATUS
• HR has proactively contacted disability service provider, Access Ability, to enquire about the services and support they offer in relation to targeted/supported employment. While HR can facilitate a partnership, the organisation needs to be willing and engaged to participate. At this stage, there have been no further updates on this matter. ongoing
• The screening questions have been reviewed and now include a mandatory question asking prospective candidates if they require any reasonable adjustments as part of the recruitment process. If the candidate answers “yes,” they are able to use a free text field to specify the adjustments required. ongoing
• Council continues to promote career opportunities on council’s LinkedIn page and will continue to promote its job opportunities and its inclusive practices.
• The careers page on council’s website has been updated to state that council is a diverse and inclusive workplace that encourages people with a disability to apply for roles and to reach out to HR if reasonable adjustments are required as part of the recruitment process. Our job adverts now also contain this statement.
• The careers page has also been updated with an EEO statement from the general manager – which promotes diversity and inclusively in the workplace. ongoing
• The next scheduled staff survey will include the relevant questions. ongoing
OUR ACTIONS PROGRESS
Accessible systems & PROCESSES
Ensure council remains compliant and able to accommodate a variety of abilities.
Create a guide for accessible communications and marketing and provide training to key communication staff.
Review council’s online content to ensure they are Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) compliant to the latest standard.
• We review our building portfolio on an ongoing basis and receive community feedback in relation to building accessibility. Each year includes building renewal projects that include accessibility items. This financial year council is providing a mobile accessible stage lift to the Pioneer Theatre and upgrading toilet facilities and the internal access pathway within the Bidgiwong Community Nursery.
• A style guide for council’s communications is currently being developed.
• We are sourcing authentic images of people with disability where possible eg. from past Council events rather than using stock imagery.
• Council staff completed a training program earlier this year on how to communicate about mental health and people with disabilities.
• Ongoing investigations are being conducted into third-party resources already available, as well as opportunities on the website.
• A council style guide is being developed to ensure consistent language is used when communicating council’s services to the wider public. Once complete, training on how to use the style guide will be rolled out across the organisation.
• Our system provider, Technology One, is constantly working on improvements for web content accessibility by following WCAG guidelines. For example, ensuring the correct use of alt text for images to help those with visual impairment.
• We are making sure that our web developers provide templates and forms for our website which are compliant and meet the standards of Vision Australia.
• The web team continues to learn about our WCAG responsibilities and to implement best practices. We are using tools to identify WCAG and PDF accessibility issues and researching web tools to assist our users to modify our site to their ability.
• Our most complex web pages and public notices are actively being rewritten to a Year 9 reading level.
• We ultimately rely on our CMS and forms developer, ‘Granicus,’ to provide products (web design, page templates, and modules) that meet the accessibility guidelines recommended under WCAG 2.1 for AA compliance. Our online forms are tested by Granicus with the current version of JAWS 4 to assist blind and partially sighted users. Granicus uses SiteImprove and Wave evaluation tools, among others. Granicus looks to the standards defined at https://design-system. service.gov.uk/ and https://designsystem.digital.gov/ for determining best practice when reviewing UX/UI changes.
• We have reviewed and updated council’s online booking platform ‘Bookable’ and council’s venue and facilities directory on the website to ensure consistency in both places and to highlight access and inclusion features.
ongoing
OUR ACTIONS PROGRESS
Educate council staff on accessibility and disability considerations when procuring goods and services.
Investigate an inclusive approach to accessing and distributing information eg GIPA request.
STATUS
We are currently developing a training module for staff. ongoing
Initial discussions were held with acting managers of HCC and Children’s Services regarding the information held within their customer databases and the language used to describe medical issues / disabilities. Council aims to ensure that a trauma informed approach to archives is used so that customer expectations can be managed when accessing council information held about either themselves or their family members.
ongoing
Availability of our Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2022 - 2026
The Disability Inclusion Action Plan will be available digitally on www.thehills.nsw.gov.au and in hard copy, with versions available in large print and easy English.
Contact Us
The Hills Shire Council - Administration Building 3 Columbia Court NORWEST, NSW 2153
Mon – Fri | 8:30am - 4:30pm
Email council@thehills.nsw.gov.au
Phone 02 9843 0555
National Relay Service (TTY phone)
For people who are deaf, have hearing impairment and/or speech impairment contact through the National Relay Service, choose your access option and ask for The Hills Shire Council on 02 8850 5622 (TTY).
Interpreter
Telephone Interpreter Service (TIS) Ph: 13 14 50 Provide Client Code C020079 for an interpreter to help you speak with council.
Assisted Hearing System
An Assisted Hearing System operates within the Pioneer Theatre and at customer service at the council administration building.