Celebrating International Day of People with Disability

This Saturday 3 December, we’re inviting our community to celebrate International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD).

This day is a United Nations observed day that aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions across the globe.

Wollongong City Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM the Day provided Council with an opportunity to reflect upon the actions that we have taken to make our community more liveable and accessible for people with disability.

“Council is striving to make Wollongong an inclusive city that provides equal opportunity for people with disability. We want to make sure that everyone has the same access to all aspects of community life,” Cr Bradbery said.

“Each year we report on the work we’ve undertaken that goes towards delivering the 91 actions listed within our Disability Inclusion Action Plan. This process helps keep Council accountable and gives an update to our community on the work achieved to date.

“Some of the projects that we’ve been working on include the installation of a new unisex accessible toilet and two new ambulant toilets at Corrimal Beach Tourist Park, installing 16 new footpaths and necessary kerb ramps, and purchasing five personal transfer hoists for use at our aquatic facilities to transfer wheelchair users to the pool.

“I know there is much more work to be done. We are retrofitting our city to meet higher standards of disability access and inclusion. We are on the way to a more inclusive community, one that completes the vision of a city where everyone has equal opportunities for participation.”

Highlights from the Annual Report 2021-2022 Financial Year

• Installed 16 new footpaths and associated kerb ramps
• Installed a new ‘Changing Place’ accessible adult change facility at Port Kembla Beach which can be used 24 hours
• Renewed Bulli Beach Reserve playground which included the addition of a range of accessible and inclusive elements such as accessible parking, continuous accessible paths of travel, a wheelchair accessible carousel, variety of accessible swings and signage
• Installed an accessible barbecue with continuous accessible path of travel to camp kitchen at Windang Tourist Park
• Designed and installed a new access ramp for Port Kembla Beach
• Developed Easy English versions of our Community Strategic Plan, Our Future Our Wollongong 2032 and a Tree Removal or Pruning on Private Property Guide
• Upgraded three websites to meet access standards and include information about access Tourist Parks, Leisure Centres and The Vale Golf Course
• Engaged people with disability to inform Council projects and updated community engagement tools and resources to meet access standards
• Created a Quiet Space in the Youth Centre including dimmable lights, fidgets, and sensory items
• Purchased five personal transfer hoists for use at our aquatic facilities to transfer wheelchair users to pool wheelchairs where required.

For even more actions download a copy of our Annual Report 2021-2022.

Wollongong City Council General Manager Greg Doyle said it was essential Council continues to focus on putting accessibility at the front of all we do.

“We’ve made significant steps in addressing accessibility in our city, and I’m very proud of the way we’re looking to improve how everyone can move about our city and interact with our community spaces, events and activities,’’ he said.

“Only in September, we had a dedicated accessible space at the Spin Fest Beach Party on North Gong beach with Auslan interpreters working the whole live music event. We’re pleased to be able to, once again, offer accessible spaces at both our New Year’s Eve and Australia Day events.

“These measures are important as it demonstrates that we are considering the needs of everyone in our city in all we do. It shows that, as well as building and improving accessibility in bricks and mortar facilities, we give equal weighting to the importance of being able to participate in a community event.’’

Want to get involved and celebrate International Day of Disabled Persons with us?

The Wollongong Art Gallery is launching a new exhibition on Sunday 4 December titled Thinking Through Pink. The pink inspired collages were created by members of the deaf community in a series of workshops held at the Wollongong Art Gallery. Using Auslan interpreters, participants, including Yolanda Pinilla (shown below) were encouraged to get creative and ‘think through pink’.

The official opening of the Thinking Through Pink exhibition will start at 1.30pm, refreshments will be provided and all welcome to attend.

Photograph taken by Tegan Georgette.

For more information about the Thinking Through Pink exhibition, visit the Wollongong Art Gallery website.