Council has re-established the Parkes Shire Access Committee with its first meeting convened on Tuesday June 26.
The role of the Access Committee is as an advisory committee to Council regarding access issues for people with disabilities across the community.
The committee has representation from across the community including Councillors, Neighbourhood Central, Currajong Disabilities, Ability Links, Lachlan Area Health and a number of individual community members.
Committee Chair, Cr Ken McGrath says access issues can relate to a wide range of lifestyle aspects, not just physical movement.
“The Parkes Shire Access Committee will address many issues of access including access to services, employment, events, communication, transport and building access,” Cr McGrath said.
The committee’s core functions are:
– To provide a forum for the discussion of matters pertaining to disability access
– To assist in the implementation of Council’s Disability Inclusion Action Plan
– To promote greater awareness, understanding, support and positive attitudes on disability issues.
The committee will act as a conduit for consultation around Council’s major infrastructure developments and events to highlight potential issues and better plan for access, develop awareness campaigns, lobby government and agencies for better services and create meaningful conversations around access issues in the Shire.
“Council’s Disability Action and Inclusion Plan maps out strategies for Council to implement and measure to ensure we are making a positive difference to people with a disability,” Cr McGrath said.
“These strategies focus on four key areas including changing attitudes and behaviours, creating liveable communities, improving our systems and processes and creating greater access to employment opportunities with Council.”
Council has also committed $10,000 in funding to an Access Incentive Scheme which will be administered by the Access Committee on an annual basis.
Further details around the Access Incentive Scheme will be formulated by the Committee and shared via Council’s communications channels in the near future.
- Story courtesy of the Parkes Champion Post
CAPTION – Left to Right: Ben Howard (Parkes Shire Council), Peter Guppy, Cr Louise O’Leary, Shellene Castleman (Ability Links NSW), Corey Rowbotham (Lachlan Area Health), Cr Ken McGrath, Steven Campbell (Parkes Shire Council), Lisa Martin, Jeffery Evans (Currajong Disabilities), Pam Symonds (Neighbourhood Central). Absent: Jodie Thompson, Sharyn Ware, Cr Ken Keith, Kent Boyd.