Carers Queensland helps Livingstone Shire Council become champions of inclusion and accessibility

Livingstone Shire Council has cemented its reputation as a champion of accessibility and inclusion after inviting Carers Queensland to deliver Disability Awareness Workshops to more than 100 council employees and councillors.

During the series of training sessions, held in November 2023 and early April 2024, staff developed a greater awareness of the social and environmental barriers faced by people with disability and then worked collectively to identify ways in which to overcome these.

Staff who took part in the workshops work in various roles across Livingstone Shire Council, including management, human resources, community engagement, infrastructure planning, facilities management and communications.

Customer-facing staff, strategic planners and people involved in supporting vulnerable families also gained knowledge of how their actions and support of people with disability in their everyday work practices could help residents feel more connected, included and engaged in their communities.

Meanwhile, members of the executive leadership and several councillors attended an Inclusive Practices Workshop to gain the confidence, skills, and knowledge to initiate action towards the inclusion of people with disability in Council’s programs and services through a strategic approach.

Carers Queensland, the state’s largest National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Partner in the Community, first connected with Livingstone Shire Council in mid-2022 and was later invited to be a guest of the Accessibility Capricornia (formerly known as Capricornia Access and Equity Group).

Supported by Council’s Community Partnerships Team and chaired by the Human Rights Commission, Accessibility Capricornia is a community group that works to improve accessibility and inclusion within Livingstone Shire.

After presenting to an Accessibility Capricornia meeting about how its Accessible Places, Spaces and Opportunities project can help councils to improve access and inclusion, Carers Queensland was invited to facilitate tailored Disability Awareness and Inclusive Practices workshops for Livingstone Shire Council employees.

Councillor Andrea Friend, an active member of Accessibility Capricornia, said the awareness workshops were well-attended by council employees, which assisted in helping to better understand the needs of people in the community who are using the spaces and services council deliver, to ensure inclusiveness.

“Together with Council, Carers Queensland delivered a number of awareness workshops across Council to employees,” Cr Friend said.

“As a key stakeholder in delivering services and/or infrastructure to the community, these workshops are an important component of Council’s overarching Community Plan, to continue our work towards providing safe and welcoming places for people of all ages and abilities.”

Fritha Radyk, Chief Executive Officer of Carers Queensland, said her organisation was currently actively working with 10 of the 22 local councils within its service areas.

“As one of Australia’s largest NDIS Local Area Coordination Partners in the Community, Carers Queensland has a key role to play in driving inclusive change in communities,” Ms Radyk said.

“We are committed to working with councils from across the state to support them to identify and share existing inclusive practices, and develop new strategies, to ensure people with disability, their families and carers have a voice in council consultation processes and are fully included as active citizens in their local communities.

“The valuable work our team has been asked to undertake with council staff is testament to Livingstone Shire Council’s willingness to learn and engage in discussions around improvements to access and inclusion opportunities.”

Nadine Lepre, Team Leader of Carers Queensland’s Accessible Places, Spaces and Opportunities project, highlighted the strong partnership that her organisation has developed with Livingstone Shire Council to address inclusive practices.

“Council staff and strategic managers participated enthusiastically in the workshops, showing a positive attitude around inclusivity and not being afraid of asking questions as they relate to their roles and responsibilities,” Ms Lepre said.

“We look forward to seeing what’s next for Livingstone Shire Council but are confident they are working towards taking action in key priority areas for people with disability in their local communities.”

To find out more about the Accessible Places, Spaces and Opportunities project, please visit the Carers Queensland website, call us on 1300 999 636, or email: cq.communityandmainstream@ndis.gov.au