News

New Universal Design and Disability Inclusion Policy will help Yarra work for all of us

29 October 2026

Blue background with speech bubbles and stars and words that say "closing the loop"

At the Council Meeting on Tuesday 13 October 2026, Council endorsed Yarra's first Universal Design and Disability Inclusion Policy. Read the news story on our website.

Project background

Universal design is a discipline that builds for the full range of people who will use something, from the start, rather than retrofitting for them later. A step-free entrance works for a wheelchair user. It also works for a parent with a pram, someone on crutches, and a delivery driver with a trolley.

The Universal Design and Disability Inclusion Policy establishes Council’s priorities in creating a more inclusive, accessible and welcoming community for people of all abilities.

The community had the opportunity to provide feedback on the draft Policy between Monday 1 June and 11.59pm on Sunday 5 July 2026.

Who did we hear from

What did we ask?

Question 1: Do you have any ideas, experiences or suggestions to share about these areas?

  • Getting into and moving around buildings (ramps, lifts, paths and doors)
  • Parking and drop-off areas (accessible parking and drop-off points)
  • Toilets and other facilities (accessible toilets and changing places)
  • Signs and information (signs, directions and information)
  • Communication and accessibility supports (support for hearing, vision and communication)
  • Sensory-friendly environments (quiet spaces, lighting and noise levels)
  • Friendly and welcoming environments (customer service, support people and assistance
  • animals)
  • Other things that would help (please specify)

Question 2: Do you have any ideas, experiences or suggestions to share about these areas?

  • Finding your way around (signs, maps and routes that are easy to follow)
  • Footpaths and walking or wheeling routes (wide, smooth and accessible footpaths)
  • Crossings and kerb ramps (safe crossings, kerb ramps and moving between footpaths and
  • roads)
  • Safety and maintenance (good lighting, fewer trip hazards and well-maintained footpaths)
  • Places to sit and rest (seating, shade and places to take a break)
  • Other things that would help (please specify)

Question 3: Do you have any ideas, experiences or suggestions to share about these areas?

  • Playgrounds where children of all abilities can play together
  • Accessible parking and drop-off areas close by
  • Shade, shelter and seating
  • Support animals are welcome
  • Spaces that consider sensory and cognitive needs
  • Other things that would help (please specify)

Question 4: Do you have any ideas, experiences or suggestions to share about these areas?

  • Information in different formats (printed, audio, digital, and other formats)
  • A website and online information that are easier to use
  • Clear information about accessibility for events and programs
  • More inclusive arts and cultural events
  • More inclusive sport and recreation programs
  • Forms and ways to contact Council that are easier to use (including self-service tools)
  • Other things that would help (please specify)

Question 5: Do you have any ideas, experiences or suggestions to share about these areas?

  • More job opportunities in Yarra
  • More training and learning opportunities
  • Better attitudes about employing people with disability
  • Opportunities to be a leader in the community
  • Opportunities to help the environment and be involved in climate action
  • More opportunities to volunteer and take part in community activities
  • Other things that would help (please specify)

Question 6: Do you have any ideas, experiences or suggestions to share about these areas?

  • Information about free or low-cost food services
  • Help to connect with support or advocacy services
  • Help to find affordable and accessible housing programs
  • Help to keep homes warm in winter and cool in summer
  • Support for public transport that everyone can use
  • Information about disability-friendly cafes, restaurants, and shops
  • Information and support to prepare for emergencies
  • Information about improving older homes
  • Other things that would help (please specify)

Question 7: Do you have any ideas, experiences or suggestions to share about these areas?

  • Seeing people with disability represented in communications, art, and public spaces
  • Celebrating disability awareness days and events
  • Promoting disability pride and celebration
  • Opportunities to speak up and make a positive difference
  • Recognising and celebrating carers
  • Chances to meet and connect with other people
  • Support for carers to stay healthy and involved in community life
  • Other things that would help (please specify)

What we heard?

Feedback on the policy was mostly positive, although many comments focused on current accessibility barriers and experiences in Yarra.

Feedback themes and Issues raised

Officer responses

Council buildings and Facilities

Feedback highlighted the need for accessible entrances, external areas, parking and drop-off points, connected pathways, clear signage, and step-free routes.

Accessible toilets, Changing Places facilities, and sensory considerations were noted as important

considerations.

Daily operations and procedures were noted as being key to reducing access barriers. 

This feedback reinforces the Policy's existing policy commitments under:

Priority 1: Accessible & Inclusive Places and Transport

Objective 1.1: Apply a Universal Design approach to all new and upgraded Council buildings, facilities, and open spaces to achieve the best possible accessibility outcomes (page 15 - 16). 

While no change to the Policy is suggested, these specific pieces of feedback will be directed to the relevant teams internally for consideration in their work programs.

Accessible Transit and Transport – Moving Around Yarra

Feedback highlighted that uneven, narrow, cluttered and obstructed footpaths create major access barriers and safety issues.

Safe crossings, rest points, clear wayfinding, lower traffic speeds, pedestrian-priority areas and better separation of path users support mobility for people of all abilities. 

This feedback aligns with existing policy commitments under:

Priority 1: Accessible & Inclusive Places and Transport

Objective 1.2: Improve footpaths, kerbs, lighting, and other elements of the public realm.

Objective 1.3: Improve transport access, accessible parking, wayfinding and connected paths of travel (page 15-16). 

The strong feedback about the impact of footpaths on the daily lives of people using wheelchairs and mobility aids supports a suggested amendment to Objective 1.2  

Add this initiative:

Continue targeted accessibility upgrades to footpath surfaces and designs to support access and mobility. 

And amend the following wording:  

  • Continue to improve seating, rest points, shade and shelter across activity centres, parks and paths, prioritising opportunities for rest and respite at intervals along pedestrian routes. 

Parks, Playgrounds and Open Spaces

Feedback highlighted access barriers in Yarra’s parks, playgrounds and open spaces, with calls for more inclusive play spaces, accessible seating, shade, rest areas, quiet and low-sensory spaces, accessible pathways, improved lighting and assistance animal access. 

This feedback aligns with existing policy commitments under:

Priority 1: Accessible & Inclusive Places and Transport

Objective 1.1: Apply a Universal Design approach to all new and upgraded Council buildings, facilities, and open spaces to achieve the best possible accessibility outcomes: (page 15

16). 

While no change to the Policy is suggested, these specific pieces of feedback will be directed to the relevant teams internally for consideration in their work programs.

Inclusive Services, Programs & Information

Feedback highlighted the need for Council information, services and programs to be accessible, easy to understand and available through a range of communication channels, supported by inclusive and flexible participation options.

This feedback aligns with existing policy commitments under:

Priority 2: Inclusive Services, Programs & Information (Objectives 2.1-2.4)

It is suggested that it be strengthened by expanding: 

Objective 2.1: Design all Council services and

programs to be inclusive, flexible and responsive to:

To add this initiative: 

  • Support inclusive programs by embedding adaptable practices into program delivery   
  • Continue to develop a disability-confident workforce through staff capability uplift, training, and awareness of best practices to support disability inclusion. 

Inclusive Participation and Employment

Feedback under this theme discussed: Council’s role in leading and advocating for inclusive employment in Yarra.

The feedback reinforces the Policy's existing direction for Council to promote inclusive employment to local businesses and organisations within Yarra, and to focus on increasing inclusive volunteering and community participation across Yarra for people with disability.

Priority 3: Inclusive Participation and Employment.

Objective 3.1 Promote inclusive employment and leadership

in Yarra

Objective 3.2 Encourage local employment participation

pathways

Objective 3.3 Support Yarra sports clubs, recreation groups,

arts and volunteer organisations to welcome participation by

people with disability (page 17).

No policy changes are suggested.

Equity, Fairness and Safety

Feedback highlighted the importance of accessible public transport, information,

housing, emergency preparedness, and advocacy in promoting equity, fairness, and safety in Yarra. It also highlighted the need for accessible businesses, festivals, and events to enable equal participation for all abilities.

This feedback aligns with existing policy commitments under:

Priority 4: Fairness and Safety (Objectives 4.1-4.5)

The concerns about the accessibility of local businesses, festivals and events support the suggested amendment of

Objective 4.2 ‘Support local businesses, events and festivals to improve accessibility through guidance and partnerships.’

To amend the initiative:

  • Offer targeted support - such as brief advisory sessions, referrals and accessibility guidance - to help local businesses, events and festivals improve access.

Representation, Belonging and Supporting Carers

Feedback collected under this theme discussed representation of people with disability, accessible community participation, inclusive civic participation, and acknowledging the value of lived experience. In addition, a strong sub-theme included carer wellbeing. 

This feedback aligns with existing policy commitments under:

Priority 5: Belonging and celebration (Objectives 5.1 – 5.5). 

The concerns about carers' wellbeing support the suggested amendment of:

‘Objective 5.3 Acknowledge the essential role of carers and support their wellbeing and participation’.

To add this initiative: 

  • Consider carers as a priority population in the development of Council’s programs and services.

What happens next?

The Universal Design and Disability Inclusion Policy requires a universal design approach in everything we build, renew or deliver, be it buildings, parks, footpaths, public toilets, websites, programs, events and the way we communicate.

Council will run access walks with people with disability through our activity centres, parks and routes to public transport. The people who meet the barriers will be the same people who identify them and help design the fixes.

Advertising and promotional materials will make clear that accessibility support is available on request: Auslan interpreters, captions, quiet spaces. No one should have to wonder whether it’s worth asking.

We will also publish an accessibility and inclusion update every year, with progress reported twice a year in Council’s Quarterly Community Report.

Visit the project page

To learn more about this project and consultation please visit the Universal Design and Disability Inclusion Policy page on Your Say Yarra.