This Disability Access and Action Plan identifies goals and actions to reduce barriers created by attitudes, practices and structures, to ensure that all people can participate equally in the life of our community. The Vision states that “everyone has a responsibility and role to play in enabling people of all abilities to fully participate in the life of the community”.
Horsham Rural City Council
Aged and DisAbility Services at Horsham Rural City Council provides a range of services to support and assist the frail aged, people with moderate disabilities, and their carers to remain living independently in their homes.
All persons referring for the service will have a Living at Home Assessment, and if council services are to be implemented. They will be implemented through an "Active Service Model" approach. The focus will be on short term services with the aim of increasing and returning independence.
We are pleased to present the 2013-16 Disability Access and Action Plan for Horsham Rural City Council.
As a primary provider of services at a local level, Council plays a key role in building a more accessible community and reducing barriers to inclusion experienced by people with a disability. We know that people with a disability want to be able to live, work and socialise in the same way as everyone else, and we recognise their rights to have the same opportunities as other community members to access and participate in community life.
This Disability Access and Action Plan identifies goals and actions to reduce barriers created by attitudes, practices and structures, to ensure that all people can participate equally in the life of our community. The Vision states that “everyone has a responsibility and role to play in enabling people of all abilities to fully participate in the life of the community” and the following goals that form the basis of this plan will help us to achieve this:
These goals align closely with the Horsham Rural City Council Plan and other corporate Council plans, taking into consideration the Strategic Framework for Local Government and, most importantly, the unique needs of our local community. The goals also link with policy directions and outcome areas of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Victorian Disability Act 2006, the Victorian State Disability Plan 2013-16, the National Disability Strategy 2010-20 and a range other legislation as outlined on page 8.
“Everyone has a responsibility and role to play in enabling people of all abilities to fully participate in the life of the community”
Some of the needs identified in this plan are the direct responsibility of Horsham Rural City Council and there are specific actions to address these issues. At other times, Council’s role is to play a support and/or advocacy role to achieve better outcomes for our community and the actions reflect this.
As we progressively implement the plan, we will report on outcomes via the Horsham Rural City Council Annual Report. We will also highlight our achievements in the media and on our website.
This Disability Access and Action Plan is a fluid document and your feedback is welcome at any time. We look forward to continuing to work with other levels of government, service providers, community organisations and the private sector to achieve better outcomes for people with a disability in our community.