Access and inclusion Emergency planning Advisory Committee Disability Network International Day of People with Disability
Access and inclusion
We want the Tweed to be accessible and inclusive for everyone.
Access means making sure that people with disability can easily take part in everything in the community, like going places, using services, getting information, and joining activities, without facing unnecessary problems or things that stop them. It's about treating everyone fairly and making things work for everyone.
Inclusion means making sure that people with disability are welcome and involved in all parts of society. It is about creating a place where everyone feels like they belong, can participate, and have a say, no matter their disability status.
Pictured above: Courtney Peate’s Connect and Captivate team at Tweed Shire Council’s International Day of People with Disability community event, December 2022. Photo credit: Pipi and Palm photography
Access and Inclusion Plan (2026–2030)
Tweed Shire Council is committed to creating an inclusive and accessible community for people with disability.
Our Access and Inclusion Plan 2026–2030 outlines the actions we will take over the next four years to improve access to services, facilities and community life.
The previous Access and Inclusion Plan (2023–2026) has now concluded. Read the previous plan – Full graphic version(PDF, 890KB) and Easy Read web version
Achievements from that plan are outlined below.
The current plan is currently available as a text-only PDF(PDF, 7MB)
We are working on accessible formats and will make these available as soon as possible.
Disability Inclusive Emergency Planning
Tweed Shire Council proudly hosted a Disability Inclusive Emergency Planning (DIEP) workshop on 28 June 2023, as part of a national research study being conducted by The University of Sydney.
The workshop explored a range of people-centred approaches to emergency management - with the aim of ensuring there is critical and ongoing development of inclusive local emergency management and disaster recovery practices that leave nobody behind.
Download the Tweed DIEP workshop outcomes report (PDF). These and other workshop reports in NSW and Victoria are now available online via Collaborate 4 Inclusion.
Watch a video of the workshop below.
Video transcript(DOCX, 21KB)
For a toolkit for people with disability to create a personalised emergency plan, please visit Planning for an emergency.
Tweed Shire Equal Access Advisory Committee
The Tweed Shire Equal Access Advisory Committee works with Council to provide advice and community and organisational perspectives on access and inclusion issues, and to support Council to plan and deliver the Tweed Access and Inclusion Plan.
For more information about the Committee including Terms of Reference and meeting minutes, please visit the Tweed Shire Equal Access Advisory Committee page.
Members of the Tweed Equal Access Advisory Committee talk about the importance of being included in the community and how Council has played a key role in achieving this.
Tweed Disability Network
The Tweed Disability Network is a forum for consultation between organisations that support people with disability and their carers to collaborate, advocate, exchange information and stay informed about sector reforms so that organisations are responsive to community needs in the Tweed Local Government Area.
Attendance at forums is open to community care organisations that support people with disability in the Tweed or Northern NSW/Gold Coast region. People with disability, their families and carers are also welcome to attend.
To receive all the latest information from the Tweed Disability Network, sign up for the mailing list.
International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD)
International Day of People with Disability is a United Nations designated day held annually on 3 December.
The day is a global initiative aimed at promoting awareness, understanding, and acceptance of more than 1 billion people who live with disabilities.
We recognise and celebrate the achievement and contributions of people with disabilities in our community.
Watch members of the Tweed Equal Access Advisory Committee share their experiences and stories to celebrate 2021 International Day of People with Disability.
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower
Council proudly supports the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower, a global initiative that helps people with non-visible disabilities discreetly signal that they may need extra support, understanding, or time.
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a simple tool for people to voluntarily share that they have a disability or condition that may not be immediately apparent, and they may need a helping hand, understanding, or more time.
Across Council, customer service staff have been trained to recognise the Sunflower symbol. We encourage customers who need assistance to look out for our team members wearing a Sunflower supporter pin or lanyard.
Policies and previous events
Previous event – 2013 Access and Inclusion Awards
The Tweed Shire Access and Inclusion Awards were launched in 2013 to celebrate achievement and innovation in building an accessible community.
The awards recognise and acknowledge action by individuals, community groups, organisations and businesses that build and promote an accessible and inclusive Tweed community. They culminate in an awards ceremony in early December, to coincide with the International Day of People with Disability.
Visit Access and inclusion awards for more information.
Watch a video of the 2013 awards ceremony, featuring the entertainers and all the award and certificate recipients.
Previous event – IDPwD 2023
Films by Morrissey online talk and film screening
For 10 years, Films by Morrissey has helped people with disabilities make films. Tim Morrissey leads the effort, creating films for businesses and teaches by hiring people with disabilities. Their films don't just capture moments; they inspire and showcase talents, promoting diversity in Kingscliff's inclusive community. Despite challenges, Films by Morrissey keeps going with resilience and support, making a big impact. Find out more.
Disability Pride Photography
This exhibition unveiled a compelling visual narrative of often overlooked stories. Over a 3 year-period, participants with disabilities engaged in a 5-week ‘Disability Pride Photovoice’ project with Social Futures, skillfully capturing their distinct and diverse perspectives.
The exhibition, hosted at Tweed Heads Library, invited attendees to witness their unique experiences and personal narratives, exploring themes like self-appreciation, inclusion, courage, and pride.
If you need assistance accessing these documents or would like a copy sent to you, please contact our Community Wellbeing Team at communitywellbeing@tweed.nsw.gov.au.