Access and inclusion initiatives

The City of Stirling makes every effort to accommodate your individual needs in order to access our facilities, services, events and information regardless of your age, disability or cultural background.

Accessible Stirling: a guide for businesses

Good access is good business. One in five Australians has a disability.

Due to an ageing population it is predicted that within 15 years this will increase to one in four people. A business that is accessible and inclusive increases your customer base. It benefits people with disability, seniors, parents with prams, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and your employees.

Can your business afford to exclude such a significant percentage of the consumer market? Below are some examples of ways that you can implement small improvements to help create an accessible business and experience the benefits.

Physical access

  • If people can’t physically access your business, they won’t
  • Provide a firm, level path of travel from the car park to the entrance. If it is not possible to remove steps, install a ramp
  • Automatic sensor doors are preferred
  • Ensure counters are accessible to a person using a wheelchair  
  • Keep access areas free from items that may cause an obstruction or tripping hazard  
  • Provide a unisex accessible toilet with adequate space for a wheelchair
  • Be aware of reflective glass at the entrance to your business and consider applying contrasting strips across any glass doors for ease of recognition. 

Customer service for everyone

People with disability have the same rights as the rest of the community to access services, facilities and information. Failure to provide the same levels of access or opportunities could be viewed as discrimination under the Disability Discrimination Act (1992).  

  • Use clear and concise language  
  • Always emphasis the person first, not the disability  
  • If the person is deaf or hard of hearing look directly at them and speak clearly at a normal pace and keep your hands clear of your face  
  • Communicate using pen and paper if this assists  
  • If the person has a vision impairment identify yourself and introduce any other people also present  
  • When handing paperwork or money to a person with visual impairment place money in the persons hand, giving them notes and coins separately
  • Provide a customer service area at a height that is suitable for people using wheelchairs with leg clearance underneath  
  • Improve customer service by providing staff with training on disability awareness and effective communication strategies.  

Customer service and communication

Translating and Interpreting Services (TIS): 131 450 or visit the TIS website.

TIS National provides access to the following interpreting services: 

  • Immediate phone interpreting (131 450) 
  • ATIS automated voice-prompted immediate phone interpreting 
  • Pre-booked phone interpreting 
  • On-site interpreting 
  • Telehealth video interpreting service.

National Relay Service (NRS): 13 36 77 

The NRS can help you communicate with people who are deaf and/or find it hard hearing or speaking with people who use a phone

  • The NRS has specially trained staff called Relay Officers who help with every call

  • Depending on the type of call, a Relay Officer will change voice to text or text to voice and AUSLAN to English or English to AUSLAN

  • Relay officers stay on the line throughout each call to help it go smoothly, but don't change or get in the way of what is being said

  • Except for calls made through Video Relay, the NRS is available 24 Hours a day, every day. 

Provision of information

Make sure all of your customers are able to access the information they need from your business.  

  • Display information in an accessible location  
  • It is recommended that information is provided in a minimum size 12 with a sans serif font such as Arial  
  • Use matt or low sheen paper  
  • Use high contrasting colours for printed information  
  • Provide clear, easy to read signage
  • Lowering your pamphlets and brochures to an accessible height for people of short stature or people using wheelchairs  
  • If your business is a restaurant or fast-food outlet, have a few menus in large print version available to assist people with vision impairment.

Inclusive employment

Australia is currently experiencing a skills shortage and the one in five Australians, or 4.4 million people living with disability, represents a vast pool of talent, which employers can tap into.

The business case for hiring people with disability is strong, people with disability generally take less sick leave and stay in jobs longer than other workers.  

To access short video guides and downloadable resources with practical advice on disability and employment - from inclusive policies and recruitment, to workplace changes and managing staff, see the Australian government’s Jobaccess Employer Toolkit.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer, the City of Stirling values the creativity and innovations of a diverse workforce to help us better meet the needs of our diverse community.

The City's 'Rethink Employment' video is a short guide to inclusive employment and can be viewed below.

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Rethink Employment

A guide to inclusive employment. This short film was funded with the assistance of a Lighthouse Project Grant and shares real-life employment stories which help to demystify the process of employing people with disability.

Business walkthroughs

The expectation of accessibility is now greater than ever, whether it is physical access to the built environment, customer service access, or access to information.

The City of Stirling is offering businesses a free informal walkthrough by friendly volunteers with personal experience of disability to provide your business with confidential recommendations for access improvements. 

Walkthroughs are a proactive starting point for businesses to identify issues for consideration and develop a practical approach to improving access for everyone including staff, customers, and visitors.

Walkthroughs may take one to two hours depending on the size of your business and can be arranged Mondays to Thursdays between 10.00am - 2.00pm as mutually convenient. Following the walkthrough, a report will be developed and usually forwarded to your business within 3 weeks.  

All information remains confidential and there is no requirement to implement the advised recommendations.

Please note that an ‘access walkthrough’ does not address access for every element within a building. It is not intended to take the place of a formal access audit which inspects and assesses to determine compliance with relevant access legislation, codes and standards rather a ‘walkthrough’ offers advice based on volunteers’ personal experience of disability.

To book an access walkthrough of your business, please email the City’s Access and Inclusion Officer  or for further information please contact the Customer Service Team on (08) 9205 8555.

Liability disclaimer:

The City of Stirling in no event shall be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages or any damages whatsoever arising out of the business walkthrough, the use of information provided during the walkthrough or in the walkthrough report. The walkthrough report is not intended as a substitute for professional advice.

Did you know?

Improving access and inclusion for your business can be as simple as providing larger print menus to installing an automatic door opener.

Changing Places

 To learn about Changing Places Facilities please visit the Changing Places website.

The City is currently circulating a short survey in order to gain a better understanding of the level of community awareness of Changing Place facilities, and to determine if there is a need for additional locations within the City.
Changing Places Survey

Accessible events 

The City supports accessible events that can be enjoyed by the whole community. 

Events such as art exhibitions, conferences, fundraisers, outdoor concerts, street fairs or award ceremonies form an important part of many people’s lives. 

If you’re organising an event, you’ll need to consider: 

  • The event layout. For example, stall location for best access 
  • Providing parking spaces close to the event for people with disability 
  • Installing portable, accessible toilet facilities, marquees or first-aid cabins 
  • Designating small areas close to a stage for people using wheelchairs 
  • Access with no steps or other barriers from the arrival point at the venue, through the main entrance(s), to all the areas being used by participants 
  • Providing contact details on promotional material, for access enquiries. 

For more information, please see the Guide to Accessible Events.

Recent initiatives

  • City of Stirling Access and Inclusion Plan (AIP) 2021-2025: this plan demonstrates our commitment to building an inclusive and diverse community where people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds can participate and contribute. The AIP strategies will guide the City in responding to the needs of people with disability, resulting in improved outcomes for all members of our community for the next 5 years. Read the Access and Inclusion Plan 2021-2025 here. This is available in alternate formats on request via Stirling Customer Service Team (08) 9205 8555

  • The City has two Changing Places facilities, both based in Scarborough: one at the Surf Life Saving Club and the other at the Scarborough Pool. Changing Places facilities enable people to participate by providing adjustable adult-sized change tables, a ceiling hoist system, centrally located toilet, circulation space for wheelchairs, automatic doors and a privacy screen. Facilities can be accessed using a Master Locksmith Access Key (MLAK). Additional locations and further information are available on the Changing Places website.

  • The Bina Parkland Development in Balga provides free and accessible recreation options that will attract a wide range of users and encourage local community events. The contemporary parkland now offers a skate plaza facility and a junior and advanced BMX track, multi-courts, parkour area, regional playground, unique public art, formalised car parking, barbecue areas, public toilets and drink fountains. Accessible features include a Flying Fox with an all-abilities bucket seat

  • The City has undertaken several initiatives to improve the accessibility of Council Meetings, including live streaming meetings, uploading the recorded meetings to YouTube and the ability to submit public questions online

  • The City's Main Administration Building, libraries and recreation front counter staff are able to communicate effectively with community members through hearing loops - hearing loops are beneficial for older people who wear hearing aids or have cochlea implants, and for young people with hearing impairment.

Electric wheelchair and gopher charging points

The City of Stirling in partnership with RECHARGE Scheme Australia, have allocated dedicated recharge points for electric wheelchairs and gophers at the following locations:

  • Stirling Libraries - Dianella, Inglewood, Mirrabooka, Osborne and Scarborough
  • Stirling Community Centres - Nollamara
  • Stirling Leisure Centres - Herb Graham Recreation Centre - Mirrabooka
  • Mirrabooka Square shopping centre
  • Westfield Innaloo shopping centre
  • Karrinyup shopping centre.

If your business is interested in the scheme, please phone our Customer Contact Centre.

Beach wheelchair

A beach wheelchair is available to the public from the City’s beach services team, located at the Scarboro Surf Life Saving Club.

For more information, please phone our beach services team on (08) 9205 7470.

Portable pool hoist

The City’s Stirling Leisure Centres - Terry Tyzack Aquatic Centre - Inglewood has a portable pool hoist which enables access to the 25-metre indoor lap pool and the 50-metre outdoor pool. 

For more information on the pool hoist, visit the About our pools page.

Sensory Quiet Space and Resources

Quiet Space

Stirling Libraries - Osborne

To assist our customers with diverse sensory needs we are creating a calmer and quieter environment in the library.

Every Friday, 9.30am - 11.30am

Earmuffs and sensory resources

Stirling Libraries - Osborne

The earmuffs are available for use in the library, for both adults and children who are sensitive to noise and may feel overwhelmed during their visit.

Sensory Sing and Play

Stirling Libraries - Dianella and Scarborough

Sensory sing and play is an inclusive program of songs and sensory play based learning in a small group setting. 

Please visit Library membership and services page for further details and information on earmuffs and our sensory sing and play program.

Neurodiverse visitors

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Useful documents

Document nameDownloadable files
Access and Inclusion Plan 2021 - 20251.5MB (PDF)
Accessible Events Guide242.7KB (PDF)
Accessible Stirling Awards Nomination Form133.7KB (PDF)