Your say on developing our new inclusion (disability) action plan

Jayne Gan

Social Policy Officer – Access and Inclusion

: 02 9265 9333
: [email protected]

Why we’re doing this

Our current inclusion (disability) action plan is due to finish on 30 June 2025 and we’re now developing our new plan for 2025–2029.

At every stage of the planning process, we’ll collaborate with those with lived experience of disability, and people who care for people with disability. This will make sure our new plan is aligned with the 4 legislated directions of:

Positive community attitudes and behaviours
Liveable communities
Meaningful employment
Equitable access to mainstream services

What we’re doing

We want to be able to respond to emerging issues and provide opportunities for co-designing solutions that will enhance access and inclusion for people with disability.

To better understand barriers and challenges, we’re inviting feedback from people with lived experience of disability, family and carers, and disability service providers and disability representative organisations.

Our community consultation includes a survey, focus groups and co-design roundtable.

Next steps

Once we’ve received your feedback from our survey, focus groups and roundtable, we’ll publish a community engagement report. This report will include the consultation and co-design of actions with the community throughout the development process of the new inclusion (disability) action plan.

We’ll publish this on our website with the draft action plan for comment in early 2025.

Language used in this survey

Language is dynamic and constantly evolving. We recognise that there is no one way of using language or terms that will be right for all people. Our intention for this survey is to be as clear as we can for a diverse audience and to be as inclusive as possible. We invite and encourage further feedback and have included open text field boxes in this survey.

We recognise disability in terms of the barriers that are created by how society is organised. For example, how buildings are laid out or how services are provided, and not by an individual’s condition or medical diagnosis. Barriers may be physical, communication, social or attitudinal that impact on their ability to fully participate in social, economic and civic life, not as a result of a person’s particular disability. A social model perspective does not deny the reality of disability, nor its impact on the person. However, it does challenge the physical, attitudinal, communication and social environment to accommodate disability as a natural part of human diversity.
- In an accessible community you can go anywhere you need to
- It is easy to get around
- It is easy to take part in social and cultural life, for example, events and programs
- It is easy to find good jobs you enjoy
- It is easy to get information you need on services, facilities, events, and programs
- People with disability have a right to access and inclusion
The interaction between multiple forms of inequality is known as ‘intersectionality’. According to the International Disability Alliance, intersectionality is a concept that many people with disability resonate with. We’re looking to better understand intersectional experiences of people with disability, and to do this we’re asking personal information to understand if respondents have multiple intersecting identities.

How you can give feedback

Consultation closes at 5pm on Wednesday 9 October 2024.

There are several ways you can give feedback.

Take our survey

Our survey closed at 5pm on Tuesday 17 September.

Join a focus group

We’re seeking expressions of interest from people with lived experience of disability in our diverse communities to participate in focus groups to help inform the development of our next inclusion (disability) action plan. Eligible participants must be over 18 years and visit, live, work or study in the City of Sydney local area.

Expressions of interest are now closed.
Join the co-design roundtable

When: Wednesday 9 October, 8:30am to 1pm
Where: Lower Town Hall, Sydney Town Hall

This event aims to empower the co-design of responsive actions to address barriers and challenges towards access and inclusion and provide opportunities to promote the rights of people with disability in the new plan.

People with lived experience of disability, disability peak organisations and local disability service providers are invited to attend.

Registrations have reached capacity. You can join the waitlist and we’ll contact you if a place becomes available.

Join waitlist
Email or post your feedback

You can give your feedback by email to [email protected] or post to:

Jayne Gan, Social Policy Officer – Access and Inclusion
Social City
456 Kent Street
Sydney NSW 2000

Two individuals are riding bicycles indoors. The first person is on a light blue bicycle. Behind them, another individual rides a tricycle. Both are situated on a glossy wooden floor typical of an indoor sports court. The gymnasium background features high ceilings and natural light. — Activate Inclusion Sports Day at Perry Park Recreation Centre

Focus groups

We’re seeking expressions of interest from people with lived experience of disability in our diverse communities to participate in focus groups to help inform the development of our next inclusion (disability) action plan. Eligible participants must be over 18 years and visit, live, work or study in the City of Sydney local area.

Each focus group will run for 2 to 3 hours and participants will be paid $120 for their time.

A 2-page discussion paper with background information and some questions to consider will be shared with participants before the focus group.

To apply, complete an expression of interest form to participate in the session listed below that is most relevant to you. All expressions of interest will be assessed, and 8 to 10 participants will be chosen to attend each focus group.

You will be notified of the outcome of your expression of interest at least one week before the focus group.

If you need help filling out this form, you can call the social policy team on 02 9265 9333 or email [email protected].

Focus group: People with intellectual disability

Thursday 29 August
10am to 12pm
In person at 414 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills or online using Zoom

This focus group is peer-facilitated by the Council for Intellectual Disability. If you would like support to apply, you can call Council for Intellectual Disability on 1800 424 065.