Having a lived experience of disability means you’re someone with a disability, or you care for or support a person with a disability in some way. Your experience, knowledge and advice can help Council improve the municipality for people who may also experience issues with access and inclusion.

Access generally refers to the built, natural and digital environments. Inclusion extends to participation in economic, social and community life and is generally a function of community attitude. Improving access and inclusion means removing barriers that may prevent someone from participating in an activity.

The Advisory Committee provides meaningful input throughout the development of Council’s projects from the perspective of people with lived experience of disability, with a focus on Bayside’s four-year Disability Action Plan (2021 – 2025). The Advisory Committee also monitors the implementation of the Plan and provides advice in the annual review of the Plan.

Committee members are expected to gain the views of other people with a disability within their networks and share these views with the Committee to ensure a broad and diverse range of perspectives are heard.

The Advisory Committee meets every second month, up to six times per year.

Anyone with lived experience of disability can apply to join the Committee. You do not need to have any experience with previous committees to join. The Committee aims to represent the needs of people of different abilities, ages, gender, cultures, and geographic locations across our municipality, as well as a range of areas of interest/expertise.

Expressions of Interest to join the Committee are open from 12 January to 19 February 2023.

You can apply to join by:

• Completing the form on this page - please select the 'apply to join' button above
• Download a Word or PDF application form and hand deliver to Council's Corporate Centre at 76 Royal Avenue Sandringham 3191 or send your application by post to Bayside City Council PO Box 27 Sandringham VIC 3191
• Contact Inclusion Officer Vimbayi Kagonda by phone on 9599 4871 or by email vkagonda@bayside.vic.gov.au

The Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee (DAIAC) is a Committee of Council. This type of governance structure means the Committee will have a high level of influence and direct relationship with decision makers, including Councillors.

Two Councillors are DAIAC members, with one Councillor acting as Chair. This ensures that Council can hear directly from people with a disability and strengthens relationships with the community.

Advisory Committees are one way Council enables public participation in decision making and enable members of the community to directly influence government decisions that affect their lives.

In line with the Local Government Act definition, Advisory Committees advise Council. They are not responsible for expenditure and cannot direct Council officers. Where Advisory Committee recommendations are beyond the delegated power of Council officers, recommended actions, along with the minutes of the meeting are submitted to Council for final decision.

The Terms of Reference provide a clear understanding of scope; objectives; code of conduct; levels of influence; and operational processes. You can read the Committee’s Terms of Reference here.

The Terms of Reference have been developed through benchmarking and guidance from other Councils that have long-established and successful committees of this type; advice from Disability Access and Inclusion Advisory Committee members; advice from Local Government Disability Planners Network; and requirements of the Local Government Act. The Terms of Reference were adopted by Council in October 2022.

The Code of Conduct sets the standards for the appropriate behaviour of members to ensure a safe, respectful and inclusive meeting space. You can read the Code of Conduct here.

The DAIAC will be most effective in achieving change if all members are able to contribute equitably to sharing their perspectives and experiences. The key themes of the Code of Conduct are respect, honesty, confidentiality, communication and preparation. It will be a requirement for members to review, agree and sign a Code of Conduct contract.