Gunnedah Shire Council has adopted the disABILITY Inclusion Action Plan for 2024 – 2028.
The plan outlines practical steps to create more accessible services, information, employment and promotes the rights of people with disabilities.
The council is guided by the NSW Disability Inclusion Act’s legislative framework, which aims to support disabled people to have the same human rights as others.
The plan came into effect in July and will continue until June, 2028.
The plan has four key focus areas which includes; developing positive community attitudes and behaviours; creating livable communities; supporting access to meaningful employment; and improving access to mainstream services through better systems and processes.
The motion was moved by Cr Colleen Fuller and seconded by Cr Kate McGrath at the August council meeting.
Cr Fuller congratulated the team who worked on the plan, specifically mentioning Debra Hilton.
Cr McGrath echoed that sentiment and acknowledged submissions made by Julie Frend.
“[She] gave a passionate presentation to council around the fees and charges and the budget and I am very pleased that a lot of the points she was advocating for are now included in the disABILITY Action Plan,” she said.
The drafts were placed on exhibition in June and received one submission.
One in five members of the Gunnedah shire reported having a disability in 2021.
Seven hundred ninety-three reported they need help in their day-to-day lives due to a disability, which is 6.1 per cent of the population. New South Wales’s is 5.8 per cent.
One hundred forty-two Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people had profound or severe disabilities and needed help in their day to day lives.
One thousand seventy-eight (11.3 per cent) over the age of 15 were providing unpaid assistance to persons with disability.
Eighty-one people were providing unpaid assistance to Aboriginal people with disabilities.
