Cardinia Shire Council - Annual Report 2017-18

Our community highlights
We will foster a strong sense of connection between Cardinia Shire’s diverse communities.
Fostering diverse communities
Council is committed to ensuring all residents feel valued,
included, respected and able to access the range of
services, programs and facilities offered by it. In 2017–18
Cardinia Shire was designated an International Safe
Community through the World Health Organisation’s
accreditation process. Only a small number of
municipalities across Australia have achieved this
designation, and upon designation Cardinia Shire would
be the third International Safe Community in Metropolitan
Melbourne and the fourth in Victoria.
Council also established its first Culturally and
Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Advisory Committee to
strengthen community partnerships, provide a voice
for the shire’s recently arrived residents from culturally
diverse backgrounds and to help inform new policies,
plans and services. Council hosted or supported a
number of community events to promote cultural diversity
including Harmony Day, World Refugee Day, a South
Sudanese community celebration, and an interactive
panel for staff with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander leaders. In June 2018, Council also became
an official supporter of the ‘Racism. It stops with
me’ campaign through the Australian Human
Rights Commission.
In May 2018, Council hosted a special raising of the pride
flag at the Civic Centre to celebrate the International
Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and
Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). The event invited the community
to demonstrate support for the LGBTI+ community and
help foster an inclusive community where all residents
feel safe. In addition, Council’s Youth Services hosted
a Pride Formal to support LGBTIQ+ young people and
their friends, and also continues to facilitate a ‘Be Ur
Self’ LGBTI+ group and a ‘Transmixer’ group for young
transgender people.
Council’s Maternal and Child Health service continued to
foster connected communities by offering a Mothergoose
group for families of CALD background to support
language development and social connections. The
service also employs family support workers from CALD
backgrounds to support engagement of CALD families
within the Maternal and Child Health service.
Ensuring accessibility and inclusion
for all
In accordance with Section 38 of the Disability Act 2006,
Council is required to prepare a Disability Action Plan, and
in compliance with the Disability Amendment Act 2012,
is required to report on the implementation of the action
plan in its annual report. Council’s Disability, Access and
Inclusion Action Plan 2017–21 aims to ensure all people
in the community have equal access to services, facilities
and resources. It provides a strategic framework to guide
future planning, decision making and resource allocation
for Council, the Cardinia Access and Inclusion Advisory
Committee, and the community.
Council has already completed nine of the 30 actions in
the plan. These include:
• Deliver YouMeUs disability awareness training to
Aligned Leisure staff
Introduction Year in review Our Council Our organisation Our performance
Governance and
management
Performance
statement
Financial
statements
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