Access & Inclusion

We are committed to providing an accessible and inclusive community where people of all ages and abilities are not isolated or excluded from being able to reach their full potential. We aim to respond and provide for infrastructure, services, and facilities for people with disabilities or mobility issues in a coordinated and planned way.

Our guiding principles are:

  • All residents, workers, and visitors to Clarence who have a disability or mobility issue have the right of equal access and opportunity to fully participate and contribute to the social, economic and cultural life of the city.
  • It is council’s moral and legal responsibility to ensure equity in the provision and access to facilities and services throughout the city.
  • Council has a responsibility to raise awareness through education and consultation in order to adequately provide access for the whole community and to ensure that barriers to access are addressed appropriately.

Policy and planning

Access and Inclusion Plan 2021 – 2025 

Inclusion benefits the whole community. Council’s Access and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 has been developed based on what the community told council as opportunities and emerging priorities. The following key theme areas support all of council’s strategic goal areas and key strategies: Lead; Create; and Deliver.  

  • Lead supports strategies and actions for council to lead a culture of continuous improvement; continue to engage with the community; and connect with services and organisations to build on critical partnerships.  
  • Create supports strategies and actions for council to ensure its information, communications and events are accessible; provision of and promotion of available services and opportunities; and increased participation in the cultural life of the city. 
  • Develop supports strategies and actions that build on universally inclusive environments, recreational facilities, amenities, activity areas, and in partnership with others improved access to transport and housing. 

View the current Access and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 and Easy Read Summary below. 

Clarence Disability Access and Inclusion Working Group 

Council has adopted revised Special Committee structure in 2023, disbanding Council’s Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee and reforming it as a Standing Working Group under the City Development Advisory Committee. The aim of the working group is to implement council’s Disability Access Plan and provide advice and input to enhance council’s services and programs for people with disabilities. 

The working group actively contribute to prioritise council’s assets and amenities for access upgrades, renewals and new works. The working group meets six times throughout the year, for further information on meetings or if you would like to become involved, please contact our Community Planning and Development Officer via 03 6217 9728 or email mmadhu@ccc.tas.gov.au. 

Projects and activities

In implementing the actions of the Access Plan, we have developed a number of programs and activities responding to identified needs of all abilities in the Clarence community.

Access & Inclusion Assessment Toolkit

Show / Hide

This toolkit was developed by council as a unique resource to assist council with general design elements for buildings, facilities, streetscapes, and recreational spaces that deliver more accessible and inclusive facilities for our community. ‘The Human Factor’ supports the key importance of accommodating all people in the community when planning for and creating accessible and inclusive environments.

Incorporating legislative standards, universal design, inclusive approaches and functionality to planning, the toolkit helps council staff assess the level of accessibility to and within council’s existing buildings and facilities. It also provides a guide to identify poor functionality or design issues/elements early in the initial planning phases of new or redesigned buildings and facilities.

It is an easily navigated guide to suit the project at hand, with fillable components that can be completed online in the writable pdf.

The Access & Inclusion Assessment Toolkit was a collaborative project of council’s Disability Access and Positive Ageing Advisory Committees.

Request a copy of the toolkit

Toolkit feedback survey

Master Locksmiths Access Key (MLAK)

Show / Hide

The MLAK system uses a universal lock and key to allow people with disabilities to access dedicated public facilities 24 hours a day. This could include things like toilets or change facilities through to adaptive playground equipment. It was developed in 1994 to help increase the availability of accessible, clean and functioning public facilities for people that don’t always have the luxury of using standard facilities.

Facilities that are MLAK enabled can be visually identified by dedicated MLAK signage.

In Clarence, almost all of our toilets are open 24/7 and so MLAK locks are only fitted on Changing Places facilities. We have one at Simmons Park; another one will be built next year at Bellerive Beach Park. They are public toilets with full-sized change tables and hoists to meet the needs of people with severe and profound disabilities. There are over 112 facilities in Australia and these can be located via https://changingplaces.org.au/find-changing-places-toilet/

Liberty Swings – we have one at Simmons Park. People in wheelchairs can safely use these swings. There are located across Australia and there are 5 in southern Tasmania – you can find them at http://www.libertyswing.com.au/index.php/home/find-a-swing-near-you

Other Useful Links:

National Public Toilet locations – https://toiletmap.gov.au/
Liberty Swing – http://www.libertyswing.com.au/

Obtaining a MLAK Key

Through a Master Locksmith for a small fee or free from Clarence City Council

Eligibility Criteria

One of the following documents:

Letter from Doctor
Disability Parking Permit
Letter of support from a Disability Organisation
Disability Card

Clarence Access and Inclusion Network Forum

Show / Hide

This is a co-facilitated forum with the Disability Access and Inclusion Working group, held three to four times per year as an opportunity for service providers and organisations to come together and share information on what is happening across Clarence in access and inclusion. It is also an ideal forum to discuss projects and partnerships. If you would like to attend the forum, please contact our community planning and development officer on 03 6217 9728 or email mmadhu@ccc.tas.gov.au for further information.

 

Universal Accessible Information project

Show / Hide

The development of an Inclusive and Accessible Information Policy and Procedures (application) based on Universal Design Principles. All information and communication across the council should have inclusive guidelines. Currently, we don’t have a similar format or policy for the council.   

Guidance on developing and support to document, practical actions council can take to make it easier for the community to access and navigate the relevant information they need to increase inclusion and accessibility across the city. 

 The Accessible information project 2009 has been developed to provide council information and literature in appropriate and accessible ways. Practical guidelines have been developed to guide council’s communications. Guidelines for providing accessible information products. 

 

Beach Access Mat Pilot

Show / Hide

Council installed a beach access mat at Bellerive Beach as a trial project over summer 2023/24.

Feedback on the trial was overwhelmingly positive and the mat will remain installed at Bellerive. In response to community feedback received during the summer trial, council is seeking grant opportunities for providing a beach wheelchair at Bellerive Beach and for extending the length of the mat.

See more about this pilot on the Have Your Say website.

Planning Inclusive Communities Research Project

Show / Hide

Did you know we are taking part in a research project?  

Dr Lisa Stafford and her team are working to find out how we can achieve better inclusive community planning for people with disabilities in regional areas. Well planned inclusive communities benefit everyone while safeguarding the rights of people with disabilities. 

The research is a three-year project funded by the Australian Research Council – DECRA. Clarence City Council is one of two Australian local councils supporting this research. 

The research project was for three years. It started in 2020 and planned to finish in 2023 but due to the impacts of COVID-19 the project has been extended. 

There are two stages to the project: 

  • Stage 1 is finding out what makes a community inclusive. In stage 1 of the project community members were asked about what makes their communities inclusive, what doesn’t and ideas and solutions.  
  • Stage 2 is working out how we can better plan communities to be inclusive. 

To find out more visit https://www.planninginclusivecommunities.com/ 

 

The research is a three-year project funded by the Australian Research Council – DECRA. Clarence City Council is one of two Australian local councils supporting this research.

Clarence Community Volunteer Service

Show / Hide

The Clarence Community Volunteer Service offers a range of services to residents of Clarence, including people 18 to 64 years old. The service is for people with a disability who need support to live independently and connected to their local community.

Services provided include:

  • Befriending
  • Shopping assistance
  • Transport
  • Light gardening
  • Telephone support
  • Social support

For further information, contact the Clarence Community Volunteer Service on 03 6217 9630 or email ccvs@ccc.tas.gov.au 

Imagine Volunteer Program – for younger adults of Clarence

Imagine achieving your dreams together was the message delivered to the Volunteer Service when council reviewed its program and providing of volunteer support to younger people with a disability in Clarence. Results from this review showed younger people with disability didn’t know about the Volunteer Service or how to access it. Following this, a promotional video was developed with the assistance of young people in Clarence.

View the video here.

Accessible transport

Show / Hide

While we are not responsible as a direct provider of transport, we play a role in lobbying for and helping to plan for transport services across the city.

To find out more about access and transport options within the municipality refer to the getting around Clarence section in the latest Get Going Guide. All transport information available from page 16 onwards.

I Can! radio podcast celebrating people with disability

Show / Hide

The impacts and the barriers that people with disability face, are often untold stories but the launch of a new, locally produced podcast series seeks to change that.

The ‘I Can!’ radio series shares the voice of people with disability as they tell their lived experiences of making a difference in employment, sport, housing, inclusive communities and more.

I Can! was an initiative of the Clarence Access Network (CAN) Forum, facilitated by council.

Key contributors from CAN that have collaborated for this project include Disability Voices Tasmania, Tasmanian Health Service (Health Promotion), Job Life Employment, At Work Australia, Rural Alive and Well Tasmania, Tasmanian Department of Communities (Sport and Recreation), NDIS Mission Australia.

The weekly series will be presented by Hobart FM 96.1 on Thursdays at 10.30 am from 29 October through to the 17 December 2020.

The program and people sharing their stories are found below, click on the title to listen to the podcast once they have been broadcast.

29 October You Can Ask That! Four people with different disabilities Paul, Tony, Kate, Duncan discuss the use of language, access and inclusion.
5 November Rural Alive and Well (RAW), ‘Wise Minds’ RAW’s Pete Owen and Amity Deans discuss mental health and training.
12 November Changing Lives through Employment At Work Australia’s Derek Hagstrom, in discussion with Clive about his journey back to work.
19 November Sport for All Morgan Kent from Department of Communities (Sport and Recreation) in discussion with Joe Chivers a local athlete.
26 November Young Leaders, Inclusive Communities Keren Franks from Young Leaders of Tasmania (YLOT) and Lottie, a YLOT participant in conversation with Lisa Stafford from Queensland University of Technology. This discussion highlights the importance of including young people in the discussion and planning of inclusive communities.
3 December Conversations on International Day of People with Disability Fiona Strahan from Disability Voices Tasmania in conversation with three people on what International Day of People with Disability means to them.
10 December Accessible Housing ‘My Story’ Lee Jordan from council’s Disability Advisory Committee talks about how he made his home accessible and the importance of universal design.
17 December Homelessness and Disability A conversation with services supporting people with disability who experience homelessness.

 

International Day of People with Disability

Show / Hide

International Day of People with Disability is held on 3 December each year to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability.

The UN theme for IDPwD for 2022 is “Transformative solutions for inclusive development: the role of innovation in fuelling an accessible and equitable world”.

To celebrate the achievements and contributions of the people with disability in our community, and to cherish the role we all play, regardless of our ability; Clarence City Council has collaborated with the Southern Support School and the Young Leaders of Tasmania to hold a Celebration Garden Party event on Thursday 1 December 2022, 11am to 1pm at the Southern Support School.

Our event is accessible, and we encourage all people with disability, their families, and carers to come along and join the celebration. It is also an opportunity for us to challenge our perceptions and attitudes about disability, break down barriers and help make our community more accessible and inclusive.

Come along and enjoy the beautiful garden and activities at Southern Support School. Registration is essential, to book online click here or for more information please contact Mydhily Madhu, our Community Planning and Development Officer- Access, Ageing and Inclusion Program, on 03 6217 9728 or by email at mmadhu@ccc.tas.gov.au.

Mobility and access map

Show / Hide

The Access and Mobility Map has been produced to help address practical barriers to access. The map includes the areas of Rosny Park, Bellerive and Richmond.

Clarence Mobility Map

Companion Card

Show / Hide

We are an industry affiliate to the Companion Card which is issued to people with a significant, permanent disability, who can demonstrate that they are unable to access most community activities and venues without attendant care support. The card may be used at the Clarence Aquatic Centre and venues in the city where council ticketed events are being held. The cardholder will be issued with a second ticket for their companion at no charge.

More information …

Making a Difference video

Show / Hide

Making a Difference is a short film to raise awareness on the important ways that local government makes a difference to the lives of people with a disability. The project is a joint initiative between council and the Tasmanian government and was made with community members from the Disability Access Advisory Committee.

 

Community Access and Inclusion Activation Grants

Show / Hide

The Clarence City Council Community Access and Inclusion Activation Grants aim to provide community groups and organisations the opportunity to work together with council on activities and projects that activate key actions from council’s Access and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 (the plan) for people with a disability.

View the grants webpage