Access and inclusion

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.

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.

The Disability Access & Inclusion Plan (2017 - 2022) 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.

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.

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 .
 

• Subiaco Community Transport Service

If you require assistance to travel locally for essential activities such as medical appointments and shopping, you might be eligible to apply for Subiaco Community Transport Service.

Eligibility

To be eligible for this service, you must be a City of Subiaco resident who:
 

• is likely to have trouble accessing medical or social needs due to your difficulty and cannot self-drive, take public transport or use another, better service that is available to you, for example Home and Community Care Transport Services and St John Ambulance Patient or Community Transport Service.
• receives the aged or disability pension, or an equivalent.
• is not eligible for the Taxi Users Subsidy Scheme (must demonstrate application/reason for ineligibility).

 
To find out more about the program and to apply, please see the Service information and frequently asked questions, and complete the Application form.
For further details contact the City on 9237 9325 or email culture@subiaco.wa.gov.au.
 

• 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
• Lords Recreation Centre, 3 Price Street, 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. 
 

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).