Shellharbour City Council is inviting the community to have their say on the Draft Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) 2026-2030, which is now on public exhibition for 28 days.
The draft outlines Council's priorities and actions to improve access, inclusion and participation for people with disability across the Shellharbour Local Government Area, helping to reduce barriers and create a more inclusive community for everyone.
Caption: Council is seeking community feedback on the Draft Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2026-2030. Image courtesy of Shellharbour City Council
The Draft DIAP has been developed in line with the NSW Disability Inclusion Amendment Act 2022, which requires councils to have a new Disability Inclusion Action Plan in place by 1 July 2026.
An Easy Read document is also on exhibition to allow for the information to be accessible and easy to understand.
Mayor Chris Homer said the public exhibition period is an important opportunity for the community to help shape Council's approach to accessibility and inclusion.
"We want to hear directly from people with disability, their families, carers and service providers about what's working, what needs to improve and where Council should focus its efforts," Mayor Homer said.
"This is about making sure everyone can access our facilities, services, programs and public spaces, and feel supported to fully participate in community life."
The draft is built around four key focus areas:
- Developing positive community attitudes and upholding the rights of people with disability
- Creating liveable and safer communities
- Supporting access to meaningful employment and independence
- Improving access to mainstream services through better systems and processes
Mayor Homer said the plan reflects Council's ongoing commitment to embedding inclusion into everyday decision‑making.
"Inclusion isn't a one‑off initiative, it's about how we plan, design and deliver services every day," he said.
"By embedding disability inclusion across our work, we're building a more welcoming, connected and liveable Shellharbour for people of all abilities."
The draft has been informed by extensive community engagement, including pop‑up sessions, surveys, direct consultation with service providers, and input from people with disability, community groups and Council's Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee.
Community members are encouraged to review the Draft Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2026-2030 and provide feedback during the public exhibition period, which runs from 27 May to 23 June 2026.
The draft plan and Easy Read document are available to view on Council's Public Exhibition page(Opens in a new window).
All feedback received during the exhibition period will be considered before the final documents are presented to Council for adoption.
KEY MESSAGES:
- Council is seeking community feedback on the Draft Disability Inclusion Action Plan 2026-2030 to help shape a more accessible and inclusive Shellharbour.
- The draft plan outlines practical actions to reduce barriers and improve access to Council services, facilities and public spaces for people with disability.
- The Draft Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) 2026-2030 and Easy Read document are on public exhibition from 27 May to 23 June 2026, with community input encouraged.
