The disability access and inclusion activities and achievements for 2022/2023 include:

Strategic

• DAIP review – review of the progress of actions and planning for priority projects for the remainder of the 2020-2024 DAIP.

• Accessibility Guidelines for Infrastructure Services – draft created.

• Accessibility Checklist for Council’s Parks & Reserves – commenced the development of the checklist including forming an internal working group.

• Local Government Access & Inclusion Network – Staff participated in the network to ensure current and relevant information in the disability space is maintained.

Social Inclusion

• Disability Traineeship – Council’s third Disability Traineeship commenced with Ms Cherie Brine undertaking a Certificate 3 in Business Administration based at the Campbelltown Library, due for completion in June 2024.

• Café Connect – the social lunch program continued fortnightly, in partnership with the Clay Cup Café at Rostrevor Baptist Church, for people experiencing social isolation to share a meal together.

• Work experience – Council hosted a student from the Vision Support Program based at Charles Campbell College for a one day ‘immersive experience’, including participation in a community cooking program and reviewing Council’s DAIP easy-read version with assistive technology.

• IDPwD (International Day of People with Disability), ‘Celebration of Inclusion’ – 25 submissions demonstrating how people with disability are included in the Community were shared online for IDPwD on 3 December 2022.

• Partnerships with Adelaide East Education Centre:
  • Council Christmas Card Design Competition – for the second year, Council worked with Adelaide East Education Centre to design Council’s 2022 Christmas Card. More than just a design competition, this initiative provides opportunity for partnership, relationship building, identifying of talents and celebration of young people with intellectual disability.
  • Citizen Advocacy Information Session – the session was held at Adelaide East Education Centre on 29 June 2023 for people with intellectual disability together with their family/carers and Community members interested in supporting people living with intellectual disability.

• Autism initiatives:
  • Through a meeting with the Assistant Minister for Autism, Hon Emily Bourke MLC, an Autism Community Information Session was planned with further discussions about Speed Friending.
  • Speed Friending Social Group – local participants of Speed Friending continued to meet and plan social activities.
  • Sensory tents – Staff worked with the DAIAC (Disability Access & Inclusion Advisory Committee) on designing quiet spaces for Council events, including the purchase of two sensory tents along with other sensory items.
  • All Inclusive, Sensory Friendly Event – Council endorsed the use of Thorndon Park Pavilion by locally based Zap Trap Classic Rock Band to hold an all inclusive, sensory friendly event at Thorndon Park. Staff have been working with the group to hold the event on 26 November 2023 in support of the International Day of People with Disability on 3 December.

• Business Mentoring Program – two management sessions were held with Purple Orange regarding inclusive recruitment and organisational culture with plans underway for a video to promote Council’s Disability Traineeship.

• Business Case Studies – two case studies were written as part of an ongoing storytelling project and to promote local businesses who employ people with disability and encourage others to also employ.

• Rare Disease Day – Staff worked with Ms Bethany Cody who shared her story via a video that was created in support of Rare Disease Day on 28 February 2023. The Migrant Monument was lit up in the Rare Disease Day colours of green, pink and blue to help raise awareness and generate change for the 300 million people worldwide living with a rare disease, their families and carers.

• Disability Services Guide for Children & Young People – through the Child Friendly Campbelltown network and the identified need by local schools, pre-schools and child care centres for access to information and services to support children and young people with disability, staff created the ‘Disability Services Guide for Children & Young People.’

Access

• Communication Access Symbol Accreditation:
  • Accreditation gained in January 2023 for Council’s Customer Service.
  • Accreditation process commenced for Campbelltown Library, with budget allocated to complete this in 2023/2024.

• Accessible signage, Thorndon Park Playground – 3 communication boards and 3 Auslan signage boards installed.

• New website accessibility tool – in January 2023 Council implemented a new accessibility tool on its website. UserWay, which can be found by clicking on the icon in the bottom right side of any page (desktop) or bottom right corner of any page (mobile), offers a variety of functions that allow users to better utilise the Council website, including screen reader (3 speeds), adjustable text size (4 sizes), contrast and more.

• Campbelltown Disability Access & Inclusion e-Newsletter – the disability e-Newsletter was launched in February 2023, providing access to information and services for the local Community.

• Accessible Toilets Map – the map captures the accessible toilets and Adult Change Facilities in Council buildings and parks/reserves and is located on Council’s website.

Infrastructure

• Steve Woodcock Sports Centre Building Improvements – completed works include unisex accessible toilet and lift.

• Athelstone Scout Hall DDA Improvements – the concept design has been developed to improve access to the Athelstone Scout Hall, works have commenced and are scheduled for completion in late 2023.

• Brookside Cellars – redesigning the accessible ramp and upgrading the toilets to make them accessible, works are scheduled to commence in late August 2023.

• Paradise Recreation Plaza – works have commenced with demolition of the existing skate area. The project will include new accessible toilet/s, including an adult change facility with changing table and hoist, which is anticipated to be completed by the end of the year.

• Athelstone Recreation Reserve Building Upgrade – completed works include changing the split-level to a single-level building which includes a fully compliant female change room, unisex accessible toilet, improved perimeter path (which includes a compliant ramp with handrails) from the carpark to the changerooms.

• Magill Village – completed works include undergrounding of powerlines and improving the streetscape on Magill Road, with a focus on accessible footpaths removing steep gradients.

• Fourth Creek Trail – Council received Open Space Grant Funding to continue the Fourth Creek Trail improvements to include the small section between Montacute Road and St Bernards Road (Dennis Morrissey Park area). Improvements will include a shelter, BBQ and wayfinding signage. The trail included a new accessible boardwalk off Montacute Road, a DDA ramp and designated crossing through the car park adjacent Dennis Morrissey Reserve and an accessible drinking fountain.

• Campbelltown Urban Village –upgrading the Campbelltown Village precinct (Lower North East Road between Brooker Avenue/Hill Street and Church Road) to improve amenity of the public realm and streetscape. Works include undergrounding power lines, installation of new LED Lighting, upgrading footpaths, landscaping and installing public art and street furniture. Works to commence in early 2024.

• Hamilton Terrace Streetscape – completed works include accessibility improvements with connected footpaths on both sides of the road together with a raised one-way traffic zone opposite the Rezz Hotel with a reduced speed zone.

• Wayikuu / Max Amber Sportsfield – includes new DDA access to and around the club rooms, accessible toilets, dedicated viewing spaces on front concourse for wheelchairs, lift, parents room, main car park at the front of the building has 3 out of the 6 car parking spaces as dedicated DDA car park, changing places, accessible change rooms. The playground has a balancing bridge, spring rock and a double swing with access path and additional seating.

• Thorndon Park Playground – completed in December 2022. The Playground was designed for people of all ages and abilities with access for all (eg Liberty swing, wheelchair accessible trampoline, sand play area, flying fox with five point harness, accessible path network leading to play equipment) and community connectedness (eg communication boards, Auslan signs).

• Playford Reserve – out to tender with design complete. The project includes DDA footpath, disability parking, amphitheatre sensory garden, accessible BBQ, picnic setting and inclusive play equipment (trampoline, spinner).

• New footpath constructions – 7 new footpaths constructed and existing footpath in Hill Street between Elm Road to Hart Street and Lower North East Road between Mines Road and Hill Street, and Darley Road to Mitchell Street have been upgraded.

• New pram ramps – 42 new pram ramps installed.

• Responding to CRM (Customer Request Management) reports – to address issues associated with footpath, trees/bushes, roads etc.