Surf Coast Shire Council encourages people with lived experience of disability to join the All Abilities Advisory Committee.
The voluntary committee provides advice to ensure everyone, regardless of their abilities, can be part of their community, access needed services, and be included.
Tim Harte said he enjoyed being involved with the committee and always learnt something from the group conversations.
“I’d say get involved, it is a really lovely community and a friendly collegiate atmosphere,” he said.
“The time commitment is meeting once every second month, and it is a really good way to be involved and give back to our community.
“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.
“It is rewarding seeing projects achieve better outcomes and save money because they have had lived experience put in from the start, with access and inclusion considered from the get-go.”
Councillor Rose Hodge said the committee had helped improve access and inclusion across the Surf Coast Shire.
“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,” she 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 and can be made at surfcoast.vic.gov.au/Community/AAAC or by calling an Access and Inclusion officer on 5261 0600.
