MELTON City Council’s Disability Action Plan 2013/17 was adopted at last week’s meeting.
The aim of the plan is to create an inclusive and accessible community in which all people are able to participate and be valued.
Mayor Kathy Majdlik said the plan would help strengthen the voice of people with a disability and support the significant role that families and carers play.
“Input from people with a disability, their families and carers was critical to the development of the plan. This feedback helped determine the priorities and actions they recognised as important,” Cr Majdlik said.
“The plan supports what people with a disability have told us, that they just want to be able to live, work and socialise in the same way as everyone else.”
The plan identifies barriers to participation for people with a disability within the municipality and actions to make the city more inclusive and accessible.
Six key areas the plan will tackle are quality services, getting information, getting involved and active, valued work, employment and further education, built environment and transport.
The council also adopted its Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan on the same evening.
The Municipal Health and Wellbeing Plan 2013/17, identifies and responds to priority issues and community needs, and outlines the council’s direction to improve health and well-being for the next four years.
The plan is based on a social model of health that recognises a quality environment and community promotes and maintains good health and well-being.
It also builds on existing health-related strategies and programs, addressing the four health and well-being themes of healthy places, a healthy community, healthy people and healthy lifestyles.
Mayor Kathy Majdlik said the council was committed to ensuring that the people in the community were safe, happy and healthy, and, as such, will develop infrastructure and programs that promote healthy lifestyles and habits.
“The council believes it is well placed to promote and address local health and well-being issues because we work closely with our community, and understand their unique and diverse needs,” Cr Majdlik said.
The priorities of the Health and Wellbeing Plan focus the council’s attention and actions to create a safe and well community, through physical places, social and cultural dynamics of communities, as well as improving the lifestyles of people by promoting healthy behaviours.
