FAQs

The Disability Inclusion Act 2014 requires Council to develop a Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP). 

1 in 5 people in Australia live with a disability, so it is important to have a DIAP that guides our strategic direction for making our services, facilities, information and programs are more accessible and inclusive.

Council is committed to protecting the rights of people with disability to participate equally and meaningfully in our community and promoting the value of diversity and inclusion.

The Disability and Inclusion Action Plan focuses on four main areas and how these impact the day-to-day life of people living with disability:

• Developing positive community attitudes and upholding the rights of people with disability

• Creating liveable and safer communities

• Supporting access to meaningful employment and independence

• Improving access to mainstream services through better systems and processes

Council engaged our community from August — December 2025 to help plan for our draft Disability and Inclusion Action Plan (2026-2030).

We partnered with Communities Thrive and People with Disabilities Australia (PWDA) to gather feedback in different ways about access to Council services and facilities, and inclusion in our community.

An online survey collected 145 responses. Survey participants identified as: 

- 40% Parents of people with disability

- 19% people with lived experience of disability

- 16% Council staff with Supporters 

- and Service providers making up remainder.

More than 115 people participated in in-person forums and interviews. We also ran additional focus groups with people with different experiences, including people with disability who identify as LGBTQ and/or culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), and/or people with mental health conditions.

Read more about this consultation here.

Feedback collected helps Council identify and understand the challenges that people with disability face, and actions Council can undertake to improve access and inclusion.

This information was used to help set priorities for the 2026 -2030 DIAP.

Sutherland Shire Council has achieved 85% of all actions within the 2022–2026 Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP).

View a visual timeline of the below highlights.

2022-2023

• Celebrated international Day of People with Disability by creating the ShireABILITY Art Competition.
• Established the Access and Inclusion Reference Group consisting of people with lived experience, carers and service providers.  
• Expansion of St George and Sutherland Shire Disability Interagency consisting of Bayside, Georges River and Sutherland Shire Councils, and service providers.

2023-2024 

• Opened The Pavilion Performing Arts Centre with enhanced accessibility. 
• Created draft town centre designs for Miranda, Sutherland/ Kirrawee with access and inclusion considerations.
• Completed first accessibility audit of Council’s website.

2024-2025

• Hosted ShireABILITY events including the ShireABILITY Art Competition.
• Opened Cooper Street Reserve all‑abilities playground.
• Provided new information sharing opportunities to increase awareness, such as the ShireABILITY newsletter reaching 105 subscribers

2025

• Opened Waratah Park all‑abilities playground.
• Completed accessibility audits on Council facilities. 
• Opened Kirrawee Library+, a fully accessible state‑of‑the‑art library with inclusive quiet spaces.
• Supported neurodiverse high school students to participate in Council’s Youth Advisory Group and in the Kids in Council work experience program

Over four years

• Provided grants to disability services totalling $435K.
• Provided volunteer work experience opportunities through our libraries, admin teams and Bushcare 
• Provided financial support to disability social enterprise to the value of $190K.

People with disability have a right to access and inclusion. In an accessible community you can easily: 

• go anywhere you need to.
• take part in social and cultural life e.g. events and programs.
• find appropriate and satisfying job opportunities. 
• access information you need on services, facilities, events and program.