Shire seeks views on access, inclusion

GNARWARRE resident and all abilities advocate Tim Harte is encouraging the community to help improve access and inclusion for people with disability by joining the Surf Coast Shire’s 2024 All Abilities Advisory Committee.

The voluntary committee will provide advice to help the shire make sure all people regardless of their abilities can be part of their community, access services they need and be included.

Mr Harte joined the committee in March 2022 and became its chair nine months later in December.

He said there was a “rich personal reward” he takes away from volunteering his time to help others.

“It’s a really positive way to give back to my local community and make sure council facilities and programs are accessible and inclusive of the whole community,” he said.

“I’m always learning something from the conversations we have.

“And it is rewarding seeing projects achieve better outcomes and save money because they have had lived experience put in from the start, and access and inclusion has been considered from the get-go.”

Cr Rose Hodge hailed the committee’s contribution to improving access and inclusion across the Surf Coast Shire over the past 22 years.

It would be impossible to measure the meaningful contributions committee members have made to Council projects, planning and to the lives of others across the past two decades,” Cr Hodge said.

“I encourage people with lived experience of disability to consider nominating for the committee and helping to ensure that this purposeful work continues.”

Expressions of interest are open until February 23.

For more information, head to surfcoast.vic.gov.au/Community/AAAC