PARRAMATTA CITY COUNCIL ACCESS & EQUITY POLICY JUNE 2013 Acknowledgements Abbreviations > Parramatta City Councils’ Staff and Committees: CALD – Culturally and Linguistically Diverse – Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander GLBTI – Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Transgender and Intersex Advisory Committee LGA – Local Government Area – Access Advisory Committee LGBTI – Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender and Intersex – Community Capacity Building Team PCC – Parramatta City Council – Community Engagement TIS – Translating and Interpreting Service – Granville Youth and Community Recreation Centre – Home Support and Community Services Team – Human Resources – Marketing and Communications Team – Library Service > City of Sydney Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Project Coordinator > Granville Multicultural Community Centre > Granville Multicultural Disability Advocacy Association > NSW Police Force Senior Programs Officer – Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Issues > Parramatta Queer Forum > The Hills Holroyd Parramatta Migrant Resource Centre > Twenty10 Access and Equity Policy Owner Area POL No. Social Outcomes City Strategy 60 Date of Approval authority Date approved commencement Council 24 June 2013 20 June 2013 Minute No. 13934 Amendment No. Date of next review Review 2 August 2014 Annually Parramatta City Council: Access and Equity Policy 2013 2 Contents Section 1 1.1 Scope 5 Background 1.2 Purpose of Document 5 1.3 Why Should Council be concerned with Access and Equity Issues 5 1.4 Who does this policy specifically support? 6 1.5 Definitions 7 1.6 Legislative and Strategic Planning Context 8 – Commonwealth of Australia 8 – New South Wales 8 – Parramatta City Council’s Principles 8 Section 2 2.1 Supporting People of Parramatta to Flourish – Local Stories The Benefits of a Diverse and Inclusive Community 10 Section 3 3.1 Policy Intention 18 Access and Equity 3.2 Policy Aim 18 3.3 Policy Objectives 19 Policy 3.4 Implementation Principles 20 – Objective 1: Diversity 20 – Objective 2: Communications 20 – Objective 3: Consultation and Engagement 21 – Objective 4: Training and Awareness 21 – Objective 5: Planning, Data and Research 22 – Objective 6: Budgeting and Resources 22 – Objective 7: Public Participation 22 3.5 Policy Compliance 23 3.6 Policy Review 23 3.7 Related Documents 23 3.8 Bibliography 24 Section 4 4.1 Parramatta LGA’s Population 26 Attachments – General Information 26 – City of Parramatta Snapshot Tables 26 – Indigenous people 30 – People of diverse genders and/or sexuality (GLBT) 31 – Children (under 12 years) 32 – Younger People (12 – 17 years) 34 – Post-School Youth (18 – 24 years) 35 – Disengaged Youth 36 – Older people 37 – People with a disability 38 – People from different cultural backgrounds 39 4.2 Further Information and Support 41 – Council 41 – Federal and NSW Government 42 Parramatta City Council: Access and Equity Policy 2013 3 1 Background Parramatta City Council: Access and Equity Policy 2013 4 1 Background 1.1 This policy applies to all employees of Parramatta City Council (PCC or ‘Council’). Scope This document replaces and supersedes the original Access and Equity Cultural and Linguistic Diversity Policy and Action Plan [POLICY060] adopted by Council in 2003. 1.2 This Access and Equity Policy is concerned with the removal of barriers in the design and delivery of information, programs, services and facilities and Purpose of Document endeavouring to ensure that all community members have opportunities to enhance their overall social, cultural and economic wellbeing. 1.3 As the heart of greater Sydney and the central driving force of our nation’s most signifi cant economic region, Parramatta is a generator of growth and Why should Council be potential. Working with our partners, Parramatta City Council in its role concerned with Access as custodian of the local community is acting now to build a signifi cant and sustainable future for our City. Council is committed to working with and Equity Issues government, business and the community to build better environments and experiences for all the people who live, work, invest, visit and learn in our City. Council is committed to growing the City’s prosperity, at the same time ensuring opportunities for individuals and community groups to prosper as well, recognising that communities where all individuals function well are likely to be more successful. Council further recognises that there are some groups of individuals within our Community who have greater diffi culty in fully participating in community life, and in maximising opportunities to succeed, unless they have certain supports to do so. As Parramatta City Council positions itself to take its place as the major Service Centre for business, employment, tourism and lifestyle options in Western Sydney, it is critical that we can support the whole community, including those that may be considered more disadvantaged or at risk, to maximise opportunities to improve their circumstances, not only for themselves, but for the benefi t of their families and the greater community. Parramatta City Council: Access and Equity Policy 2013 5 1.4 Council acknowledges that the people of Parramatta LGA are a very diverse group. Specifi c groups within the Parramatta LGA that Council acknowledges Who does this policy and seeks to support and accommodate in terms of appropriate delivery of specifi cally support? programs, services and information as well as opportunities include: > Indigenous people (0.8%) > People of diverse genders and/or sexuality (2%) > Children under 12 years (15.6 %) > Young people 12 – 24 years (16.6%) > People over 55 years (21.2%) > People with disabilities (18% – 22%) > People from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds (50.2%) See Attachments (page 27) for further information. Source for all data: Parramatta Community Profi le id, 2006 Census Further to this, Council also recognises that there are a number of groups within our Community who may be classed as disadvantaged and at high risk, due to diff erent circumstances that have led to fi nancial diffi culties, isolation from others and a reliance on formal support services and programs. These include but are not limited to, some in the community who fall within one or more of: > Unemployed people > Disengaged youth > People with mental health issues > Older people living alone > Carers > People who are homeless > Single parent families, and > People in Government Housing. Source: Profi le id, City of Parramatta Fact Sheet – Disadvantage in Parramatta These groups in particular are recognised as requiring additional supports in order to assist them to interact and engage in community life, and ultimately to have the capacity to change their circumstances to result in a better future. Parramatta City Council: Access and Equity Policy 2013 6 1.5 Access – implies fair and equitable access to programs and services in areas essential to achieving and maintaining social, cultural and economic well- Defi nitions being. Equity – implies distribution of economic, social and political resources in ways that are not restricted by age, gender, race, ethnicity, disability or income. Multiculturalism – the NSW Government’s policy on multiculturalism is set out in the NSW Community Relations Commission and Principles of Multiculturalism Act 2000. The Principles of Multiculturalism are: > All individuals in New South Wales should have the greatest possible opportunity to contribute to, and participate in, all aspects of public life in which they may legally participate. > All individuals and institutions should respect and make provision for the culture, language and religion of others within an Australian legal and institutional framework where English is the common language. > All individuals should have the greatest possible opportunity to make use of and participate in relevant activities and programs provided or administered by the Government of New South Wales. > All institutions of New South Wales should recognise the linguistic and cultural assets in the population of New South Wales as a valuable resource and promote this resource to maximise the development of the State. Social Disadvantage – Social Disadvantage includes the following: > Poverty – poverty means that a person has an inadequate standard of living and faces an increased risk of poor health, and experience low self- esteem and social isolation. > Deprivation – deprivation exists when a person lacks the resources to access the goods and activities that are essential to a basic quality of life. > Social Exclusion – Social exclusion exists when a person cannot participate in key societal activities1. Factors of Disadvantage include: > Inability to communicate in English > A sustained disability; physical, intellectual, sensory or psychiatric > An addictive disorder; drug related, alcohol, gambling, etc > Isolation > Unemployment > Lack of access to aff ordable housing > Lack of access to transport 1. State Environmental Planning Policy (Aff ordable Rental Housing) 2009 and the Standard Instrument Principal Local Environmental Plan. Parramatta City Council: Access and Equity Policy 2013 7 1.6 There are separate legislative requirements that govern Councils in providing services in an accessible and equitable manner, particularly in reference to Legislative and disadvantaged groups within the community. Strategic Planning Commonwealth of Australia Context > Affi rmative Action (Equal Opportunity for Women) Act 1986 > Carer Recognition Act 2010 > Disability Discrimination