City of Cockburn - Wetlands to Waves

Disability Services

The City is committed to ensure that Cockburn is an accessible and inclusive place for people of all abilities, their families and carers to live in.

The City recognises that people with disabilities are valued members of the community who make a variety of contributions to local social, economic and cultural life.

Disability Services are provided as part of the implementation of the Citys' Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2007 2012.

The following services, events, programmes and facilities are accessible and inclusive of people with disabilities:

Programmes & Events | Recreation Facilities | Library Services
Customer Services | Public Consultation

Programmes and Events

• Celebrate Ability Day
  Annual event in December with activities designed to be inclusive for children, families and residents of all abilities to celebrate International Day of People with a Disability.
• Child Care Services - visit
  Inclusion Support Workers to assist children with disabilities to participate in After School Care and Vacation Care programmes.
• Childrens Services  - visit
  Cockburn Early Education Programme provides playgroups and individualised home visits inclusive of children with developmental delays and disabilities.
• Cockburn Community Care
  Support services to the frail aged, young people with disabilities and their carers. Services available range from centre based day care, counselling, domestic assistance, home maintenance, personal care, respite, social support and transport.
• SMP Supported Wage Crew Scheme
  Partnership between the City and employment agency South Metropolitan Personnel (SMP) to employ young people with disbilities to provide assistance to Executive Services and to Parks and Gardens Services.
• Youth Services  - view
  Youth Outrage School Holiday Program includes young people of varying abilities in recreational and social activities and opportunities. The new purpose built Cockburn Youth Centre will run a series of art workshops as part of the ActivATE Programme.

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Recreation Facilities

• South Lake Leisure Centre - visit
  The entry of the building has a ramp and the swimming pool also has a ramp as well as a hoist. A waterproof wheelchair has been provided through Youth Advisory Council fundraising.
• The Beach Trekker
  Modified wheelchair available to the public at the Coogee Beach Surf Lifesaving Club to transport people with limited physical mobility along the beach as well as into the water.
• Universal Playground
  70% of the playground equipment has subtle modifications that enable children with a disability to participate in more physical activities. It is located in Manning Park in Hamilton Hill.
• Cockburn Liberty Swing
  One of the most important parts of childhood is simply being able to have fun, and the Liberty Swing will bring laughter and smiles to many wheelchair bound children who would never otherwise experience such a simple joy.
  Families and carers seeking to obtain a key to use the swing are asked to contact the City of Cockburn on 9411 3444.
  Download further details

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Library Services

• Assistive technologies and materials the following assistive technologies and materials Zoom Text screen magnification; large character keyboards; Tracball mouse substitute; large print and talking books.
• Coolbellup Library
  Also known as the Adaptive Technology Centre has full wheelchair access and specific facilities that can help people access a computer such as Kurzweil Omni that converts text to speech using a scanner, Starview magnification viewer and a speech synthesiser.
• Home Library Services
  Other services include a Home Library Service that delivers books and other materials on loan to readers who are housebound and a fortnightly bus that brings readers to the Success Library.

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Customer Services

• Alternative formats for printed material
  Posters, brochures and ongoing publications such as the Annual Report, Cockburn Soundings magazine and Cockburn Update email newsletter.
• Auslan signing interpreters
  Assistance to people with a hearing impairment can be provided by the City upon request and prior arrangement.
• Customer Request System (Info Request)
  Officers respond to complaints within 7 days. Customer requests or complaints can be directed to the Customer Contact Centre on 9411 3444 or emailed through to customer@cockburn.wa.gov.au.
• Disability Awareness Training
  Citys staff will under go training that provides information and knowledge to assist staff in understanding the needs, and offering a more responsive service to people with a disability.
• Hearing Loop system
  Available in the Council Chambers, Function Area and Dining Room. This system assists people using hearing aids to hear more clearly by cutting out background noise.
• National Relay Service (NRS)
  People who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment can use the NRS to help make phone calls if they have access to the internet or a special phone called a TTY. Customer service staff at the City of Cockburn are supportive of customers using this service. (See above for contact details).

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Public Consultation

• Community Needs Study
  Conducted in January 2008 to evaluate perceptions of the quality of life in Cockburn and determine what the City can do to minimise the adverse impacts of change, to protect and enhance liveability in the area. 14% of out of 403 residents who completed the survey had a disability or impairment.
• Community Perceptions Survey
  Conducted in April 2008 to evaluate and monitor performance across a range of services & facilities. 13% out of 405 residents that participated in the study had a disability or impairment.
• Disability Reference Group
  Facilitated by the City to give a voice to people with disabilities and make their needs known to Council.  This proactive Group is made up of consumers, industry representatives, Councillors and City staff.  Membership is open to all residents and service providers in Cockburn.

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