We consulted with both external and internal stakeholders in 2021 and 2022 to help shape the new Accessibility Action Plan.

What we heard:

• support enhanced mobility,
• strengthening opportunities to participate in community life,
• improve access to information and
• increase participation in local decision-making.

The full Community Engagement Report can be found here or in the Document Library on this page.

We spoke we our own Port Phillip staff in 2021.

Key themes included:

• increasing the representation of people with disability in our workforce.
• build organisational capability and
• ensuring an accessible and inclusive workplace.

In 2022, interviews with service providers and community organisations helped to further explore these themes and two focus groups were facilitated through Voices of the South Side (VoSS).

The sessions identified:

• A sense of increasing gentrification that was negatively impacting the experience of inclusion of people with disability.
• Concerns were further raised about rationalisation of services in the community.

Due to COVID restrictions at the time, all engagement occurred online or by phone.

With the first stage engagement completed, a draft Accessibility Action Plan was developed, considering the views from the numerous stakeholders and themes that resonated strongly across the community.

Based on the feedback from earlier engagement, numerous themes have been reflected in the draft Accessibility Action Plan.

Some of these include:

• Council being an advocate for people with disability and their carers.
• Council adopting a human rights approach to disability, facilitating greater opportunities for inclusion.
• Supporting universal design principles into both built environments and service delivery.

Engagement on the draft Accessibility Action Plan is now ready to commence and we are keen to have your input.

Given the restrictions imposed by the pandemic and the limited engagement opportunities available during the first round or engagement, there will be greater opportunities for you to provide feedback with more in person sessions and an extended engagement period.

There are several ways you can provide feedback on our draft Accessibility Action Plan.

You can attend one of our Pop-up Conversations:

Saturday 29 April 2023

10 am to 12 pm

Albert Park / Middle Park

Armstrong Street at Canterbury Place

Friday 5 May 2023

10 am to 12 pm

Ripponlea

Glen Eira Road, cnr Quat Quatta Avenue

(outside The Clifford)

Saturday 6 May 2023

10 am to 12 pm

St Kilda / St Kilda West

Veg Out St Kilda Farmers Market

Saturday 6 May 2023

2 pm to 4 pm

Port Melbourne

Waterfront Place near Station Pier

Thursday 11 May 2023

4 pm to 6 pm

Balaclava - St Kilda East

Outside St Kilda Library, Carlisle Street

Saturday 13 May 2023 10 am to 12 pm

Elwood

Elwood Farmers Market - 49 Scott St, Elwood

Saturday 13 May 2023

2 pm to 04:00 pm

St Kilda Road

Albert Road, in front of No. 50 Albert Road

Wednesday 17 May 2023

10 am to 12 pm

South Melbourne

South Melbourne Market - Cecil St, South Melbourne

You can attend our accessible pop-up conversation

We’ll be at St Kilda Library Community Room to answer your questions and hear your feedback on the draft Plan.

Auslan interpreters will be at this pop-up conversation.

Wednesday 10 May 2023

11 am to 2 pm

St Kilda Library Community Room

150 Carlisle Street, St Kilda VIC 3182

Close to Public Transport

Wheelchair Accessible

Auslan interpreters will be at this event.

You can complete the survey below.

If you require a hard copy of the survey, please contact us on 03 9209 6777 or email: aap@portphillip.vic.gov.au

While the development of our new Accessibility Action Plan is underway, the current Access and Inclusion Plan will remain in place until such time Council endorses a new Accessibility Action Plan. Council has endorsed the extension of the current plan at the council meeting held 1 December 2021. For more information about this endorsement, please view the Council meetings page.

If you would like to receive notifications about this consultation and the latest news on accessibility and disability inclusion in Port Phillip, you can subscribe to our mailing list.