Project Overview

Melton City Council launched in grand style its easy-to-read Disability Action Plan 2013-2017 last year. We were thrilled that our Plan was recognised in the Disability Access and Inclusion category of the 2014 National Awards for Local Government. 

The Plan strengthens the voices of people with a disability and supports the significant role that families and carers play, underpinning Melton's commitment to the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. The high profile launch celebrated the Plans development and used local talent, skills and stories of people with a disability to deliver a powerful message.

The Plan recognises all people with a disability, including children, young people and adults with a sensory, physical, or neurological impairment, acquired brain injury, or mental illness. It understands the important role that families and carers play and the need for them to be supported, valued and respected. 

Input from people with a disability, their families, and carers has shaped the Plan, determined its priorities, and put into actions the things that are important. It supports what people with a disability have told us; that they just want to be able to live, work and socialise in the same way as everyone else.

The Plan now guides Council decision making on issues pertaining to people living with a disability. It enhances the participation and wellbeing of people with a disability by helping to remove barriers and increase control and self-determination in everyday life. 

The Plan sets out actions over the next four years that continue to build on the success and learning's from Council's two previous disability action plans, and supports and aligns to the:

• Melton City Council Plan 2013-2017, and
• Municipal Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2013-2017.
   

Approach

From the very beginning of the process we knew that the final Plan needed to be written in a way that was easy-to-read and would be accessible to, and understood by our target audience. After researching other Disability Action Plans we discovered many were written at levels of complexity and comprehension that most people would struggle to understand. We did not want our Plan to read that way.

Our consultation began by asking people with a disability, their families and carers what was important to them, the challenges they face, and their views on elements of access and inclusion across the City that could be improved. One of our key learning's from the consultation process was to involve as many of the Council's officers who were associated with delivering services to people with a disability as possible. It was very important that they heard what the community was saying first hand, rather than reading an interpreted account in a document somewhere down the track. The community's view of disability service providers and health care agencies was also sought and considered.

When consulting with the community, Council used three plain English,  open ended questions to offer people living with a disability and their Associates the opportunity to respond in their own words without leading them on any particular themes or issues. The three questions asked were: 

Q1. In terms of how people with a disability are welcomed and included in the life of our community, what works well?

Q2.What are the challenges/barriers in the Melton community preventing people with a disability to live, learn, work and recreate?

Q3. What improvements could be implement by the Melton City Council or the Melton community to make Melton a better place for all people with a disability to live, learn, work and recreate in?

Simplified English and pictorial questions were also drafted for those who were non-verbal or had low literacy levels. Online surveys were also made available via 'Survey Monkey' for those who could not attend a public consultation.

An example of a question in pictorial and simplied English format

In developing the Plan, Council consulted with 350 people through a series of discussions, forums and surveys. Participants included people from across the municipality representing people with a disability, their families, friends, carers, residents, local health and disability service providers, and the Melton Disability Advisory Committee. People participated with enthusiasm, reinforcing the view that the City of Melton is a great place to live, but still having more work to do in ensuring that people with a disability can do and achieve the same things in life that others take for granted. 

Collectively, a number of research methods were used to gather primary data for the Plan, including:

• Data from the 2011 census
• Four community discussion groups
• Community feedback from the CARE Melton Expo (over 550 people in attendance)
• A forum with representation from 12 disability service providers, Government and non-Government organisations, and health care agencies
• Public forums with interested members of the community
• Surveys (125) identifying key issues for people with a disability, carers and disability service providers
• Feedback from the Disability Advisory Committee.
   

The information gathered identified six key priority areas:

• Quality services
• Getting information
• Getting involved and active
• Valued work, employment and further education
• Built environment
• Transport.
   

Delivery

With feedback from the community collected and the priority areas identified, focus shifted to the delivery of the Plan. Council felt that it was important to have in place a rigorous process in place to monitor and measure our success. In particular we wanted to:

• know whether we were succeeding
• determine if/where we needed to invest more time and energy
• make informed decisions and better respond to change
• be transparent and accountable.
   

On this basis Council resolved to:

• provide bi-monthly reporting to the Melton Disability Advisory Committee
• report quarterly through Council's quarterly reporting process
• provide an annual outcomes report in Council's Annual Report
• report to the community through Council's newsletters.
   

The Action Plan launch was a significant and high level event targeting those that could bring about change. This included state and federal politicians, managers, and senior council officers and stake holders.

Accessible community facilities	The launch of the Disability Action Plan

Impact

Through its Disability Action Plan, Council is working in partnership with the local community toward ensuring that people with a disability:

• stay informed regarding the implementation and outcomes of the  Plan
• feel supported and have access to the things they need to reach their goals and aspirations
• are valued members of the community who can easily move around and enjoy the company of their friends and family
• actively contribute to their community, have a voice that is heard, and positively influence the future of the City
• have the same opportunities as everyone else.
   

Much has been achieved in recent years:

• Inclusive playspaces have been developed across the municipality.
• The CARE Melton Expo has been launched, which brings together local carers and disability service providers.
• Resources and publications that support carers and people with a disability have been developed.
• A range of recreational and arts opportunities involving people of all abilities have been established.
• Council has established strong networks and partnerships with providers who support people with a disability.
• New buildings have been designed with state-of-the-art accessibility features.
• Council delivers information forums and workshops to educate the community on access and inclusion for all.
   

We are now:

• Working together to deliver accessible, flexible services that inform and meet the changing needs of people with a disability, their families and carers
• Improving access to information that supports informed decision making and increases awareness of services, opportunities and entitlements
• Providing people with a disability opportunities to actively participate, socialise and have fun in the community, improving their health and wellbeing
• Increasing opportunities and participation in further education and employment for people with a disability
• Increasing general participation and access to the local community
• Supporting people with a disability to move freely in and around the municipality.

This article prepared by the Community Participation and Engagement Team at Melton City Council. For enquires, contact Warren Penna, Project Officer at Melton. The Melton Disability Action Plan was a category finalist in the 2014 National Awards for Local Government. Images courtesy of Melton City Council.