In Australia, it’s estimated that 1 in 5 people have a disability. That’s more than 5.5 million people living in Australia, and about 20% of the population in our communities.
For all people with disability, local governments play a critical role in their lives. They provide essential community services, infrastructure, facilities, community connection and employment.
In 2021, Australia’s Disability Strategy was created. It’s a collective commitment by all levels of government - Australian, state, territory and local - to build an Australia where people with disability are valued, included and empowered to thrive. It is how we can work together to achieve Australia’s commitments under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD).
An important part of this is having clear guidance for local governments about how they contribute to making sure people with disability can participate as equal members of society. That includes supporting local governments to develop disability inclusion and action plans, with policies, programs, services and systems that reflect the human rights principles of the UN CRPD.
The Australian Local Government Association (known as ALGA) is pleased to lead the development of this Guide for Local Government on disability inclusion, with funding from the Australian Government Department of Disability, Health and Ageing.
We hope it will be a lasting valuable resource for all councils across Australia. The updates we have made respond to current and emerging issues we know councils are facing. For example:
- the active role councils play in emergency preparedness and response
- the role of local councils as a significant employer of people with disability in their communities
- changing disability and policy landscapes, including new requirements in some state and territory legislation
- managing the implementation of changing requirements
- moving towards a social model of disability, in line with a human rights-based approach to disability inclusion.
We have built on the previous guide for local government for Disability Inclusion Planning developed in 2016. Our focus for this guide is making sure information and guidance remains current and relevant for all types of councils.
We recognise that every council faces unique challenges when it comes to disability inclusion. There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach. We also acknowledge that many councils operate under fiscal pressures and budget constraints. These limitations can make implementing immediate and meaningful change more challenging, particularly in areas such as physical infrastructure.
In response, the Guide is designed to offer:
- a practical foundation of strategies and actions that councils can take, adapt and tailor to progress their inclusion goals
- a diverse range of approaches and solutions – including options that are less financially demanding – to ensure that progress remains achievable regardless of budget size.
We’re pleased to present the Guide in a new, digital and accessible format. It is an online hub for the information, tools and templates that councils need. This also enables us to update the Guide with new information and guidance as councils continue to operate in a changing landscape.
We know changes are underway. This includes the ongoing review of the Disability Discrimination Act and efforts to modernise it. This also means staying up to date with the Standards that sit under the Act – such as the Transport Standards, the Premises Standards and Disability Standards for Education – which are reviewed every 5 years.
We know councils across Australia have great ideas on how to implement best practice. So we have also harnessed this through a Community of Practice, with representatives from 35 councils. They have helped to inform the Guide and will continue to add new information, examples and case studies into the future. Thank you to the Community of Practice as well as state and territory associations and other stakeholders who contributed to the development of this Guide.
The Guide encourages collaboration across local governments on disability inclusion. We encourage all councils to share your feedback, case studies and ideas with us as we work together to create more inclusive communities for everyone.