Access and inclusion

Key points

Local government has a critical role in encouraging and supporting active participation in community life, and ensuring that its services are accessible, equitable and inclusive to all residents, including: 

  • people from diverse cultural backgrounds, including and not limited to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
  • people from cultural and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds
  • those identifying as LGBTIQ+
  • people of faith
  • people of all ages, gender and disability. 

We're committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive and accessible community, as outlined in our Access and Inclusion Disability Strategy and Action Plan 2021-26

Ways that we support inclusion

Our inclusivity statement 

Cardinia Shire Council encourages a sense of belonging within our shire. We support an inclusive community comprised of people from diverse backgrounds, including and not limited to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from cultural and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, those identifying as LGBTIQ+, people of faith, and people of all ages, genders and abilities.

Access and Inclusion Disability Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2026

A disability action plan sets out what we will do to make our community – workplaces, services, programs and venues – more accessible to people with disability so they are equitable, inclusive, and safe.

Disability action plans are based on 4 outcomes for people with disability:

  1. Reducing barriers to people with a disability in accessing goods, services, and facilities.
  2. Reducing barriers to people with a disability in obtaining and maintaining employment.
  3. Promoting inclusion and participation of people with a disability in the community.
  4. Achieving tangible changes in attitudes and practices which discriminate against people with disability.

Read the Disability Strategy and Action Plan in Word, PDF and Easy Read formats

Cardinia Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee

Cardinia Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee (CAIAC) is committed to making Cardinia Shire welcoming, accessible and inclusive to all.

Purpose

The Access and Inclusion Committee are representatives of the disability community, disability sector and Cardinia Shire Councillors.

  • We monitor and review access and inclusion policy and Council's disability action plan
  • We provide information to Council on issues impacting upon people with disability that prevent inclusion in the community
  • We have input and participation in strategic planning
  • We are represented on Council Community Advisory Committee’s for local projects
  • We liaise with Cardinia Shire Council on Council related matters

View the CAIAC committee terms of reference

Meetings

The meetings are open to the public. Please RSVP to the Council officer prior to attending 1300 787 624 or  accessandinclusion@cardinia.vic.gov.au 

Date: Third Wednesday of alternate months, February, April, June, August, October, December
Time: 10am to 12 noon
Location: Cardinia Cultural Centre, 40 Lakeside Boulevard, Pakenham, 3810 
 
For more information or to register your interest contact our access and inclusion - disability officer on 1300 787 624 or  accessandinclusion@cardinia.vic.gov.au 

Access keys

An access key is an accessibility guide for people with a disability.

Visit the access keys page to view and download access keys for Pakenham’s Deep Creek Reserve, Pakenham Library and Community Hall, and Cardinia Cultural Centre.

These accessibility guides help visitors to:

  • know what to expect before you go to a place or event, so you can plan and prepare
  • determine whether the location or event is suitable to visit
  • feel less worried about visiting new places
  • have a better, easier and more enjoyable experience 
  • be more independent.

New Access Keys from 2024

Council has been working with MyLi Libraries, Deep Creek Reserve, and Cardinia Cultural Centre to update the four Access Keys and the related communication boards at these community facilities. While we continue to update these documents, please note:

  • The Access Key for Cardinia Cultural Centre in Pakenham was last updated March 2021. The updated PDF and large print documents for the Cardinia Cultural Centre will become available in 2025.
  • The PDF documents for the Access Keys for Deep Creek Reserve in Pakenham and the Pakenham Library and Pakenham Hall were updated in July 2024. The large print word documents for these access keys are still being updated and will be available online in 2025.

Visit our Access Keys webpage

'You Me Us' - free online inclusion training

Staff and volunteers at community organisations striving to be more inclusive can access free online disability awareness training. The 'You Me Us' portal is a local government initiative.

The training focuses on topics including:

  • attitudes
  • language
  • communication
  • access.  

Participants can watch videos, complete quizzes and receive a certificate of completion. It's a great tool for your induction or orientation program, or to promote that you're a disability-aware business, service or organisation.

While the programs are tailored to the needs of leisure centres and community centres, anyone who is interested and keen to learn can access them. It also has videos and resources to help businesses create a more accessible and welcoming environment for customers. 

This portal is sponsored by Metro Access (a local government initiative in Victoria) and Liberate Learning. 

Training for community organisations   Business videos and resources

Supporting International Women’s Day

  • International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global celebration of the movement for women’s rights.
  • It’s a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women and to raise awareness of the inequality women face across the world.
  • We support International Women’s Day each year and encourage our community to get involved too.
  • Community groups, individuals and organisations who want to raise awareness, host events, fundraise or simply learn more about International Women’s Day, can get more information and free resources online at the:

Recharge your electronic mobility chair or scooter

 
  • If you use an electronic mobility chair or scooter, you can recharge them at our community Power Up sites, listed below. 
  • The Power Up Program is a Cardinia Shire initiative where power outlets across the shire are allocated to users of electronic mobility chairs or scooters for recharging.  

Power Up locations in Cardinia Shire 

  • Beaconsfield Neighbourhood Complex
  • Civic Centre - Officer 
  • Cardinia Life - Pakenham 
  • CEC Nursery - Deep Creek Reserve Pakenham
  • Cockatoo Senior Citizens 
  • Deep Creek Reserve Golf Club and Function Centre
  • Emerald Evergreen Senior Citizens 
  • Gembrook Community Centre 
  • James Bathe Reserve
  • Koo wee Rup Bowls Club
  • Kooweerup Community Centre 
  • Kooweerup Regional Health Service 
  • Lang Lang Senior Citizens 
  • Outlook Inc Vic  
  • Pakenham Hall/Library Complex 
  • Pakenham Senior Citizens 
  • Rix Road Early Learning Centre - Pakenham
  • Toomah Community Centre 
  • Toomuc Recreation Reserve Pavilion
  • Caldermeade Farm & Cafe
  • Reach Gymnastics, Pakenham

How to apply for a 'Power up' sign

If you would like a Power Up sign at your business, you will need to: 
  • provide an accessible, designated power point  
  • have clear access to the power point 
  • have a Residual Current Device (RCD) installed or mounted on the electrical switchboard of their premises 
  • have public liability insurance coverage of a minimum of $20 million  

If you're interested in being part of this program please contact us on 1300 787 624 or  mail@cardinia.vic.gov.au 

The benefits of the program are: 
  • increased accessibility  
  • increased safety 
  • an inclusive community
  • increased community disability awareness 
  • more customers 

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Cardinia Shire

What is the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)?

The NDIS is being introduced gradually in all Australian states and territories. The NDIS is an insurance model designed to help people get the support they need so their skills and independence improve over time. The NDIS provides Australians aged under 65, who have permanent and significant disability with funding for assistance or products that help them in their daily life and help them to participate in the community. Cardinia Shire entered the NDIS in September 2018.
 
The NDIS provides support to eligible people with intellectual, physical, sensory, cognitive and psychosocial disability. Early intervention supports can also be provided for eligible people with disability or children (0-6 years) with developmental delay.
Cardinia, Casey and Greater Dandenong loacal government areas form the Southern Melbourne NDIS area.

Local Area Coordinators (LAC)

Local area coordinators work with the NDIS to:
  • help you understand and access the NDIS
  • help you to find and start receiving the services in your NDIS plan
  • help you to make changes to your plan through a plan review
Our LAC Latrobe Community Health Service, for more information you can:

Early Childhood Early Intervention (ECEI)

ECEI is an approach to provide parents / primary caregivers of young children (0-6 years) who have developmental delay or disabilities timely access to best-practice early childhood supports, experiences and opportunities.

ECEI work with you to:
  • help you find supports in your area
  • provide some short-term early intervention
  • help you to request NDIS access if your child requires longer-term early childhood intervention supports.
Our ECEI provider is Link Health and Community, for more information you can:

Am I eligible to access the NDIS?

Find out on the NDIS webpage 

More information

Call the NDIS on 1800 800 110 or go to the NDIS website

Accessible buildings and facilities

We follow our Universal Design Policy to ensure new buildings and facilities are accessible for everyone in our community.

Disability complaints

People with disability can make complaints about services or disability discrimination to these organisations: 
  • The Disability Services Commissioner (DSC) - Works with people with a disability to resolve complaints about disability service providers, and works with disability service providers to improve outcomes for people with a disability.
    Visit the Disability Services Commissioner website or call 1800 677 342
     
  • The Ombudsman’s Office
    Visit the Victorian Ombudsman website or call 9613 6222
     
  • The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission - An independent agency established to improve the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services. They regulate NDIS providers, provide national consistency, promote safety and quality services, resolve problems and identify areas for improvement.
    Visit the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission or call 1800 035 544
     
  • The Australian Human Rights Commission - an independent agency that investigates and resolves complaints about unlawful sex, race, disability and age discrimination. 
    Disability discrimination includes discrimination based on physical, intellectual, sensory, learning and psychiatric disabilities; diseases or illnesses; medical conditions; work-related injuries; and past, present and future disabilities. It also includes discrimination based on association with a person with a disability and use of a carer, assistant, assistance animal and/or disability aid.
    You can make a complaint on the Human Rights Victoria website or call 1300 656 419 or email infoservice@humanrights.gov.au

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