About disability
This plan uses the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities definition of disability. It describes people with disability as people who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory differences that, when interacting with inaccessible communities and environments, prevent full and equal community participation.
This definition also supports the social model of disability and emphasises that a person’s disability itself is not the primary obstacle to their participation. Rather, it is the external physical environment and attitudinal barriers that impede full inclusion and engagement. By eliminating these physical and attitudinal barriers, people with disability can contribute and participate equitably and with dignity as valued members of our community.
Regarding attitudinal barriers, this includes the language and terminology we use when discussing disability, our conscious and unconscious biases towards disability, and the assumptions we make about the impact of disability on our communities, such as financial, accessible spaces and inclusion for people with disability.
While removing physical barriers is often easier than addressing attitudinal barriers, we are committed to fostering a supportive and accepting environment throughout our shire. We aim to lead by example and showcase the benefits of inclusion for people with disability on the broader community.
Statistics shed light on various aspects of disability in Australia.
We know that at least 80% of disability is not visible.
This emphasises the importance of recognising and understanding non-visible disability.
When we consider the working age population of Australians and the current need for an increased workforce.
5% or approximately 2.1 million people between the ages of 15 and 64 have a disability.
When comparing the employment rates of people with disability, we note it is at 10% versus 4.6% nationally. Therefore, we recognised there is opportunity to access an untapped talent pool.
- 40% of people with disability are aged 65 or older.
- Additionally, 35.9% of households in Australia include a person with a disability.
This emphasises the need for inclusive policies and practices. These statistics are important to reflect upon when thinking about future planning for Moyne Shire, with considerations including the alignment with the Whole of Victorian Government Universal Design Policy approach to town planning, communications and projects.