Engagement reports – inclusion (disability) action plan 2025–2029

We engaged with communities and partners to understand barriers to access and inclusion, as well as what could be improved in our next inclusion (disability) action plan 2025–2029.

Published 30 September 2025

Book cover: A panel of six people discusses an inclusion action plan for 2025-2029 on stage at a community engagement event. Large banners and screens display key messages as the audience listens attentively.

We heard from more than 350 people, including people with disability, family members and carers, disability service providers and disability representative organisations.

Their feedback helped to create the vision of an inclusive City of Sydney:

Together we aim to drive social change and equity for people with disability. We will do this by promoting and protecting the inherent rights, dignity and voices of people with disability, and creating a more inclusive, accessible, resilient and diverse city for all.

Our engagement reports detail the key findings of this work.

Stage 1 engagement

From August 2024 to October 2024, we engaged with local communities and partners to understand barriers to access and inclusion, as well as what could be improved in our next inclusion (disability) action plan. Their feedback enabled opportunities for co-designing solutions to enhance access and inclusion.

Our first stage of community consultation included a survey, focus groups and a co-design roundtable.

- There is varied experience of people with disability, family and carers reporting positive community attitudes towards disability in the City of Sydney area, with 40% of people with disability not feeling welcome and included. More visibility of diverse disabilities, as well as raising greater awareness of intersectionality and of non-visible disabilities were suggested as next steps for the next plan.
- Liveable communities are places where people can live, learn, work and play, feel safe, belong, connect with others and grow old. Making a community liveable includes physical access and improving the way we connect, giving people the chance to participate and make social connections.
- People with disability surveyed were most satisfied with libraries (59%), parks and reserves (43%), community centres (40%), aquatic centres (45%) and customer service (41%). They were most dissatisfied with, accessible drop-off areas (73%), footpaths (63%), mobility parking (62%), public toilets (62%) and public seating (55%).
- 84% of survey respondents experience some form of discrimination, with those with intersectional identities experiencing greater discrimination. There are opportunities for the City of Sydney to support people with disability to prevent, report and respond to violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, as well as amplify the visibility of diverse disabilities to help change community attitudes and behaviours.
- Less than half of survey respondents with disability are in paid employment. Feedback was given that the City of Sydney can provide more meaningful employment that is flexible and supportive to recruit, retain and develop employees with disability, while also continuing to promote a culture that celebrates diversity and inclusion.
- People with disability would like more opportunities to have a say on issues that are important to them. Opportunities to promote co-design and individual advocacy were seen as next steps to empower disability-led change.

Engagement report stage 1 – inclusion (disability) action plan 2025–2029PDF · 4.34 MB · Last modified 3 September 2025

Engagement report: Word versionDOCX · 6.64 MB · Last modified 29 April 2025

Stage 2 engagement

From May 2025 to June 2025, we invited feedback on the draft inclusion (disability) inclusion action plan 2025–2029. The plan was developed in consultation with people with disability, their families and carers, disability service providers and disability representative organisations.

Our second stage of community consultation included an Auslan video, an online survey and written feedback by email and post.

- More visibility of diverse disabilities, as well as raising greater awareness of intersectionality and of non-visible disabilities are important priorities to create positive community attitudes and behaviours towards disability. This is covered by actions 1 to 3 in the new plan.
- Physical accessibility and wayfinding are important for disability inclusion, and the accessibility of streets, footpaths, parks and open spaces are addressed through our inclusive and accessible public domain policy and guidelines under action 4.
- More diverse and accessible programming for people with disability is needed, along with more mobility parking spaces, hearing augmentation in City of Sydney facilities and accessible and affordable housing to provide for a more liveable city. These areas are covered in actions 5 to 16 in the plan.
- Feedback included that the City of Sydney can do more to provide meaningful employment for employees with disability through traineeships, supported positions and entry-level programs. This could be achieved by partnering and promoting open employment opportunities to disability employment services and specialist organisations and providing career pathways for employees with disability.
- The City of Sydney aims to have 5% of its workforce identifying as employees with disability by 2029. We’ll work hard to promote a culture that celebrates diversity and inclusion and creates greater cultural safety under actions 19 to 23.
- Digital accessibility is important for inclusion, along with providing information in alternative formats. We’ll continue to promote access and inclusion through our digital and print accessibility policy under action 26.
- All barriers and feedback were addressed through actions in the new plan. We will continue our engagement with the Inclusion (Disability) Advisory Panel to oversee implementation of the plan over the next 4 years.

Engagement report stage 2 – inclusion (disability) action plan 2025–2029PDF · 759.48 KB · Last modified 3 September 2025

Engagement report: Word VersionDOCX · 36.17 MB · Last modified 3 September 2025

Collage of diverse people with disabilities in various everyday settings, with text reading "2025-2029 Inclusion (Disability) Action Plan, City of Sydney.

Strategies & action plansInclusion (disability) action plan 2025–2029Published 8 July 2025

Two people sit and talk on outdoor chairs in a city square near historic buildings, while pedestrians walk nearby on a sunny day.

Policy & planning changesYour feedback on our new inclusion (disability) action planClosed

Two individuals are riding bicycles indoors. The first person is on a light blue bicycle. Behind them, another individual rides a tricycle. Both are situated on a glossy wooden floor typical of an indoor sports court. The gymnasium background features high ceilings and natural light.

Vision settingYour say on developing our new inclusion (disability) action planClosed

Engagement reports – inclusion (disability) action plan 2025–2029

Stage 1 engagement

Takeaways

Stage 2 engagement

Takeaways