Access and Inclusion Survey 2025
Let's create an environment which empowers all members of our community.
Are you passionate about disability access and inclusion?
We're planning for our next Disability and Inclusion Action Plan (2026-2030) and want to hear from you.
Whether you have lived experience of disability - physical access, intellectual disability, neurodiversity and/or mental health illness - are a carer, family or friend, and/or provide services to people with disability, your feedback is important.
Help us foster a more inclusive community in Sutherland Shire and improve access to Council services, facilities, information and programs.
Have your say by 16 September 2025:
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Consultation results available
Thank you to everyone who participated in this consultation. The results are now available to view here, by clicking the button or image below, or reading the text below.
Council engaged our community from 12 August — 16 September 2025 to help plan for our draft Disability and Inclusion Action Plan (2026-2030).We partnered with Communities Thrive to gather feedback in different ways about access to Council services and facilities, and inclusion in our community.
Platforms used:
- Social media
- Leader advertising
- Signage and flyers
- Council eNewsletters
- Join the Conversation
- Community workshops
Survey Results:
Online survey respondents identified as: 40% Parents of people with disability, 19% people with lived experience of disability, 16% Council staff
Online survey respondents* satisfaction overall with support for mental health and emotional wellbeing: 38%
*includes people with lived experience, parents and supportersIn-person engagement:
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People with Lived Experience (37 participants)
- Phoenix Community Project Workshop
- Sylvanvale Client Consultative Committee Forum
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Parents and Carers(5 participants)
- St George and Sutherland Community College Forum
- Service Providers (25 participants)
- Disability Interagency Consultation
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Community members(25 participants)
- Sutherland Farmers Market Intercept Interviews
Targeted focus groups
We partnered with People with Disabilities Australia (PWDA) to run more focus groups later in the year with people with different experiences. Hearing from a wide range of voices is important because it helps us understand different needs and challenges. These groups include:
- People with Disabilities who identify as LGBTQ
- People with Disabilities who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD)
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People with mental health conditions
What you told us
"We need to educate the greater community on what a supporting people with disabilities looks like… Every community member has a responsibility to support our most vulnerable citizens.” - Parent of a Person with Disability
“Council should lead the employment of PWD setting the example for other employers. Council should set targets for the employment of people with disabilities - celebrate their achievement and report back to the community in Annual Reports” - Supporter of a Person with a Disability
“Despite some noticeable repairs to some long standing footpath hazards, there are still many kerb ramps that are very challenging, esp. for a wheelchair user…” - Person with Lived Experience
“Asking the end user what’s important to them. Then taking that on board to make positive changes so that people [with disability]... meld into the community ... because they are able to experience it just like their peers.” - Person with Lived Experience.
"I have a MLAK key and find it hard to find places to use it..."
"The lift at [train] station is often broken so I need to find alternative transport or go to another station which is out of my way"
"People in community are very helpful [but] shop steps/layouts make many no-go zones"
"If large events are [in] non-level surface areas (parkland/beach) I generally don’t go as I’m not able to access the venue well."
What's next?
All feedback will be reviewed and used to help develop our next draft Disability and Inclusion Action Plan.
We will share this draft plan for further community feedback in early 2026.
