FAQs

About 1 in 5 people in Australia have some form of disability. It’s important that our community is a safe, inclusive and accessible space for everyone. Council is always looking at ways we can make our public spaces, services, programs and activities better for our community. 

The Disability Inclusion Act requires Council to have a Disability Inclusion Action Plan. This plan will help guide the work that Council does for the community.

No. This will be our third Disability Inclusion Action Plan.

We created our first plan in 2016 and our second plan in 2020. These Plans have guided Council in making our community a more inclusive and accessible place for everyone. 

Visit our website to see some of the things we’ve delivered as part of our last plans.

It will build on the great work we’ve delivered as part of our last two plans. The plan will include the things that Council can do to make these things better: 

• Helping people feel included and safe in our community.
• Making it easier for people to get around their local area.
• Improving access to our public spaces, like, parks, playgrounds, pools or buildings etc.
• Making our services programs and events more accessible and inclusive. 
• Making it easier to get and share information with Council. 
• Making our Council a better place for people with disability to work.

It’s important we hear directly from people with disability and their families, carers and support workers about what is good and what is hard for them. As we create the plan, we will also talk to disability service providers, community organisations, and advocacy groups.

We know people use different words to talk about disability.

Some people like to say “disabled person”.

Some people like to say “person with disability”.

Some people are happy with both. 

In this project, we mostly say “person with disability”. 

We do this to respect each person as an individual first. But we know that everyone is different.

We respect the words you choose to use about yourself. You can tell us what words you prefer.

The information collected from the community will help us understand the challenges that people with disability experience. It will also tell us what people think are the most important things for Council to work on first. This information will be used to help us write the actions in the plan. When we write the plan, we will also look at current research and the other great things different organisations are doing.

Staff from all areas across Council will help create the plan.

We are aiming to have a draft plan ready by early 2026. We will be asking the community to read it and tell us what they think before it is finalised. We will let everyone who gives us feedback know when the draft is ready. The draft plan will also be on our website and at Council libraries.

You can give feedback in different ways: 

• Come to a workshop. To join a workshop, complete the form or call 4227 7111. These are the workshop details:
   
  1. People with disability and their family members, carers and support workers
     Tuesday 22 July, 12pm–2pm, Dapto Ribbonwood Centre
     People they care for are also welcome.
      
  2. People with autism and/or neurodivergence
      Thursday 31 July, 11am–1pm, Corrimal Community Centre
      Quiet room available.
      
  3. People with non-visible disability, or cognitive or intellectual disability
     Thursday 7 August, 12pm–2pm, Wollongong Library
      
  4. Blind or low vision community
      Tuesday 12 August, 12pm–2pm, Wollongong Library
      
  5. d/Deaf or hard of hearing community
      Wednesday 20 August, 12pm–2pm, Wollongong Library
      
  6. People with physical disability
      Wednesday 27 August, 3:30pm–5:30pm, Dapto Ribbonwood Centre
      
  7. Online workshop
      Wednesday 30 July, 5:00pm–6:30pm, via Microsoft Teams
     Includes transcription and optional live captions.
      
• Visit one of our pop-ups to have a chat:
  1. Let’s Talk Bellambi – Bellambi Neighbourhood Centre, Friday 4 July 10am–2pm
  2. NAIDOC Family Fun Day – Darcy Wentworth Park Warrawong, Tuesday 8 July 10am-1pm
  3. Let’s Talk Wollongong – Near North Beach Kiosk, Cliff Rd, Wollongong, Friday 11 July 8am-10am
     
     
• Share your stories or fill in a survey online.
• Get a paper survey and reply-paid envelope at your local library.
• Email us at engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au. 
• Call us on 4227 7111.

After we finish talking to the community, our Engagement Team will write an update. This update will say:

• How many people shared ideas.
• What we heard.
• What will happen next.

 Everyone who gave feedback will get this update. It will also be published on this webpage.

If you’re d/Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech or language difficulty, you can contact us through the National Relay Service(External link). If you need an interpreter, you can contact us through the Translating and Interpreting Service(External link) on 131 450. You’ll need to give our phone number 02 4227 7111 for either service.