Access and inclusion

The City is committed to making services, facilities and communications accessible and inclusive for everyone in the community.

International Day of People with Disability

International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is a United Nations sanctioned day that is celebrated internationally on 3 December. It aims to promote public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability.

To recognise this important day, the City of Subiaco hosted and supported a number of events in 2022 that promoted awareness, inclusion and celebration of those living with disability in our community including the following:

Wheelchair basketball with Rebound WA, Friday 2 December
Mark’s Mission Impossible at Lords, Friday 2 December
Art exhibition launch: ‘Nothing About Us, Without Us’, Saturday 3 December
Creative Responses with Art Jam - Workshop , Wednesday 7 December
Live music - Art Exhibition "Nothing Abous Us Without Us" closing event, Saturday 10 December
Inclusive storytime, Tuesday 6 December
Signing Storytime by Access Plus WA, Wednesday 7 December
Free experiential access audits (2) for businesses and community organisations, December 2022 - January 2023.

Accessible and inclusive events within Subiaco

City of Subiaco events

All events and programs hosted by the City are accessible. If you have specific access requirements, such as accessible parking, an Auslan interpreter or audio loop, please make City staff aware when you respond to an event invitation so they may support you.

Other events and programs within Subiaco

Friends in Harmony is a dementia friendly choir run by Alzheimer’s WA. The choir meets once a week at the Third Place, corner Barker Road and Rowland Street Subiaco, and is coordinated by an experienced choir leader.
SAGE (Social Aspie Group Events): SAGE is a meet-up social group run by people with autism, for people with autism. You don’t need a formal diagnosis to join and support people are welcome. Some events run from the Third Place in Subiaco.
Peak Trampoline: Peak Trampoline is a community based organisation operating out of the Lords Recreation Centre in Subiaco. Peak Trampoline involves people in a sport that caters for all ages, body types, abilities and personalities.
Telethon Superfins Learn to Swim Program: Superfins WA Inc is a swimming club for people with disabilities. The club caters for swimmers at all levels, from beginner swimmers to those participating in international competitions. It operates from Lords Recreation Centre in Subiaco on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons during school term time.

Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2023-2028

The Disability Access & Inclusion Plan (2023 - 2028) works to improve the inclusiveness and accessibility of every service the City of Subiaco provides for the community. Under the Disability Services Act 1993, every local and state government agency must develop a Disability Access and Inclusion Plan.

There are seven outcome areas within the DAIP which the City works towards:

Outcome 1: People with disabilities have the same opportunities as other people to access the services of, and any events organised by, the relevant public authority.
Outcome 2: People with disabilities have the same opportunities as other people to access the buildings and other facilities of the relevant public authority.
Outcome 3: People with disabilities receive information in the relevant public authority in a format that will enable them to access the information as readily as other people are able to access it.
Outcome 4: People with disabilities receive the same level and quality of service from the staff of the relevant public authority.
Outcome 5: People with disabilities have the same opportunities as other people to make complaints to the relevant public authority.
Outcome 6: People with disabilities have the same opportunities as other people to participate in any public consultation by the relevant public authority.
Outcome 7: People with disabilities have the same opportunities as other people to be employed by the City of Subiaco.

The role of City contractors and agents

External agents and contractors that interact with the public on the City's behalf must comply with the DAIP by ensuring equitable access for people with disability.

The City has gathered relevant information on Contractor Progress Reporting; and tips for agents and contractors on how they can better contribute to the objectives of the City's DAIP.

City partners and grant recipients can also benefit from ensuring their event or activity is accessible and inclusive across all phases including planning, implementation and post-event. For more information on how to achieve this, please see accessible and inclusive events - considerations.

Disability Access and Inclusion Committee

The Disability Access and Inclusion Committee (DAIC) advises council on issues around access and inclusion in the community.

Anyone can nominate to be a member of the committee and from time to time, there will be advertisements asking for new members. If you are interested in becoming a member, contact the City at culture@subiaco.wa.gov.au.

Get to know the City's Disability Access and Inclusion Committee members

The Disability, Access and Inclusion Committee (DAIC) comprises Elected Members, people with disability, community members with an interest and/or expertise in disability, and service providers. If you have any access and inclusion matters you wish to refer to the Committee, please contact Elected Members who form part of the DAIC, ie Cr Angela Hamersley and Cr Gary Kosovich. Contact details for these Elected Members are available here https://www.subiaco.wa.gov.au/your-council/who-we-are-en/meet-your-council/mayor-and-councillors .

Cherise Larchet

Cherise has worked within the Western Australia Disability Sector for 22 years. She is a passionate advocate for people with disabilities and their families. Currently Cherise works at Mission Australia, a NDIS Partner and Local Area Coordinator for the Subiaco area, working alongside individuals to understand, access and implement their NDIS plan whilst building community engagement to continue to establish inclusive communities.

David Vosnacos

David currently represents VisAbility on a range of Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Groups across different organisations and Local Government Authorities including Perth, Wanneroo, Victoria Park, Belmont and Melville.

He has more than 20 years of experience working in the area of low vision and blindness and wants to make a difference in the accessibility of Subiaco.

Russell Jones

Russell is a local Subiaco resident with 19 years of lived experience in caring and advocating for his son Matthew. Matthew was a student at the Sir David Brand School in Coolbinia, where Russell is treasurer of the P&C and a member of the school board.

Russell and Matthew participated in the 2021 National Disability Services (NDS) ACROD campaign “Your Bay is Someone’s Day” to raise awareness about the misuse of ACROD parking bays around Western Australia. To learn more about this campaign, visit the National Disability Services (NDS) website.

Rebecca Henderson

Rebecca is a Workplace trainer from Mission Australia (Subiaco), and has comprehensive knowledge of how the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) operates and the social model of disability.

Rebecca has lived experience with disability and is passionate about empowering people with disability to live their own lives just as she has.

Joseph and Evan Salt

Joe is an enthusiastic Subiaco resident with a lived experience with disability; working for the Customer Engagement team at the City of Perth.

Joe is very active part of the community through his participation in Voiceworks Plus, a local musical theatre choir for people living with disabilities, Telethon Superfins, a swim club for people with disability operating from Lords; and the Wembley Football Club.

Evan, aside from being a proud father of Joseph, is active in the disability community himself as a board member at long standing provider Indigo / ILA as well as working with a wide range of people with disabilities through his own NDIS Plan Management business.

Mark Elsing

Mark Elsing, a stroke survivor and a frequent Lords member was told he would never eat, walk or talk again following a severe stroke in 2014. Mark proved this wrong by breaking a world record challenge — the longest distance travelled in a wheelchair with one arm.

Mark wants to show those who are at the crossroads in their rehabilitation after a brain injury that nothing is impossible. He was also on the board for Disability Access and Inclusion for the Brightwater Group while undergoing three years of residential rehab where he assessed and rated accessibility of venues.

Nerida Croker

Nerida has been a valuable member of the City of Subiaco’s DAIC since 2018. She is a Subiaco resident and an occupational therapist working in the field of rehabilitation and chronic disease. She also has a personal lived experience in caring for her mother.

Louise Watson

Louise is a Community Capacity Building Officer at Wanslea. Wanslea is an Early Childhood partner delivering the Early Childhood Approach (ECA) program in partnership with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

Louise has been in this role for more than three years now, and during this time has established strong relationships with mainstream and community services, provided the community with information about the ECA program and NDIS and advocated for a more inclusive and accessible community for children with developmental delays and disabilities.

Through being part of the DAIC Louise hopes to provide ideas and strategies to further support the City of Subiaco to be an inclusive and accessible community for all children and families.

City support services and programs

Recharge scheme

The City is proud to be the first local government in Western Australia to introduce the 'Recharge Scheme'. The scheme allows community members to charge their motorised mobility devices, such as scooters and electronic wheelchairs, at community venues, local businesses and City-owned buildings identified as ‘recharge points’. The City works closely with businesses to ensure designated areas meet the safety and access requirements.

Recharge points in the City of Subiaco are:

Subiaco Library, 237 Rokeby Road, Subiaco
Earthwise, 315 Bagot Road, Subiaco

Recharge point stickers are displayed on the windows of participating businesses, as well as above or near the designated power points for easy identification. If you are interested in your business becoming a recharge point, please contact the City on 9237 9222.

For more information about the Recharge Scheme, please visit the website.

Housebound Delivery Service

Subiaco library offers a housebound delivery service for residents who are temporarily or permanently housebound and unable to visit the library. Contact the Library on (08) 9237 9300 to find out more or determine your eligibility.

Useful links and resources

Government services

Commonwealth Home and Support Program (CHSP)

The CHSP provides entry-level support for older people who need some help to stay at home. Service providers work with them to maintain their independence. Support can include help with daily tasks, home modifications, transport, social support, and nursing care. Please visit the Department of Health website for more information.

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is currently being rolled out across WA and is available in the City of Subiaco. The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is working with Partners in Community to deliver Local Area Coordination (LAC) and Early Childhood, Early Intervention (ECEI) services. The LAC partner for the City of Subiaco is Mission Australia and the ECEI partner is Wanslea Family Services. For more information please visit the NDIS website.

My Aged Care

My Aged Care is an Australian Government website which provides advice and services to assist seniors remain independent in their home or to find placements in residential facilities. Please contact them for information about services within your age and requirements. The City also has a webpage dedicated to services and events for seniors.

Taxi User Subsidy Scheme (TUSS)

In July 2019 the Department of Transport revised the eligibility criteria of the TUSS. Those eligible for the TUSS may receive up to a 50% subsidy on all future taxi travel, to a maximum of $25 per trip, or a 75% subsidy if you use a wheelchair or scooter. To check if you are eligible and to apply, please visit the Department of Transport website or phone 1300 660 147.

Disability Gateway

The Disability Gateway assists all people with disability, their families and carers to locate and access services across Australia.

Local service providers

St John Patient Transfer and Community Transport Services

St John Patient Transfer assists patients to reach medical appointments at hospital. This service offers a range of transport options tailored to the needs of their clients including a wheelchair and stretcher service. For more information, please phone 9334 1234.

St John Community Transport Service caters to the needs of the wider community, including the elderly and people with moderate disabilities as well as their carers. It is a non-profit passenger service that serves those who cannot use mainstream public transport systems or their usual form of transport. For more information, please phone 9334 1300.

For more information about both services, please visit the St John Patient and Community Transport Services website .

Accessible parking information

ACROD parking

There are a number of accessible parking bays (commonly known as ACROD bays) in the City of Subiaco. ACROD bays are easily identifiable using the international symbol of access (ISA), consisting of a blue square overlaid in white with a stylised image of a person in a wheelchair.

Who can use an ACROD bay?

Parking in accessible parking bays is only permitted for vehicles displaying a valid ACROD permit on the dashboard of their vehicle at all times. For more information on ACROD permit conditions, visit the National Disability Services website.

The ACROD Parking Program supports Western Australians with a severe walking restriction and Western Australians who are legally blind to access the community. ACROD Parking Permits are free. For more information on eligibility, visit the National Disability Services (NDS) website.

Significant fines are imposed for the misuse of ACROD parking bays. Stopping or parking in an ACROD bay without the display of a valid ACROD permit is not permitted for any length of time or for any purpose.

I am an ACROD permit holder, where can I park in the City of Subiaco?

ACROD parking is free of charge in designated ACROD parking bays, with an ACROD permit clearly displayed. If there are time restrictions stated on the ACROD parking sign, the ACROD permit holder will be required to adhere to the time restrictions.

When parking in a paid or ticket parking location (in a non-ACROD bay) ACROD permit holders are required to obtain a valid parking session, however double the time secured or paid for will be granted (provided the ACROD permit is clearly displayed at all times).