Council

Access and equity statement

Wollongong City Council is committed to providing services and facilities which are delivered in an accessible and equitable manner. This means services are:

inclusive and non-discriminatory,
promote equal access for all, and
consider the diverse needs of our communities.

These values are core to the Wollongong City Council Social Plan 2007-11. The Local Government (General) Regulation (1999) requires all Councils in NSW to develop a Social Plan and report on the outcomes.

The Wollongong City Council Social Plan 2007-11 was developed in partnership with the community to deliver a plan that is reflective and responsive to the social issues in our community. The Social Plan assists us in understanding the nature of the Wollongong community, summarises its key issues and provides strategies for Council and other partners to implement to address identified needs. The needs and strategies identified in the Social Plan inform projects outlined in the Management Plan.

The Social Plan Annual Status Report 2007-08 reported more than 80% of Social Plan strategies had commenced during its first year of implementation. The Annual Status Report will continue to report on the progress of the Social Plan, and determine further priorities for implementation.

Key initiatives for 2009-2010 are identified below:

Target group	Social Plan strategy	Project
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People	1.5a Support initiatives that encourage reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the wider community	Establishment the Dharawal Educational Book Project
Children and their families	2.2b Establish the City of Wollongong as a Child Friendly City	Development of a Child Friendly Action Plan
Older people	4.2a Support a range of affordable, adaptive and appropriate housing options for older people 4.6b Facilitate the achievements and contributions of older people through community celebrations and activities	Profile and review housing options for older people Wisdom and Sustainability Project - engaging older people in the development of a resource for sustainable living.
People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds	5.7a Support community organisations to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate information 5.5b Develop innovative ways of promoting community inclusion, cohesion and community harmony for the CALD community	Delivery of and improvements to, the Interpreter Service Continue development of the WCC Diversity Policy
People with a disability	6.7a Provide services and facilities that are physically, financially and socially accessible to people with a disability	Construction of a ramp at Continental Pools Mobility Access Map
Women	7.1a Identify gaps in service provision for women and families with complex needs experiencing domestic violence in the Illawarra	Implementation of the Integrated Case Management Project
Young people	8.1a Develop and work in partnership with Police, young people, Council�s youth services and Wollongong Youth Network on safety initiatives for young people. 8.4b Encourage the development of youth specific activities, such as skateboarding, so that they are visible and part of the urban environment	Implement the underage Binge Drinking Program Design development of a skate facility in the southern suburbs
All groups	11.2a Promote and support diverse community events, activities and organisations to promote inclusiveness and tolerance	Continue and enhance the Living Library Project Viva La Gong festival

Last Modified: 28/04/2009

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