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More than 100 people took to the dancefloor of a community country club for the latest inclusive disco event EasyBeatz.
The Byford and Districts Country Club has shared their transformative journey to increasing inclusion, thanks to support from APM Communities – which included hosting EasyBeatz.
The inclusive event, EasyBeatz, brought together over 100 attendees, including people with disability and their support workers, for an evening of dancing and socialising.
Club manager Ray has shared the club’s experience of working with APM and embracing opportunities to include everyone at the venue in Western Australia.
"What APM did for us was open our eyes. Without APM, we'd still be where we were six months ago without knowing this whole sector exists."
The collaboration began when APM Communities approached the club with a simple yet impactful question:
"Would you like to host an inclusive event here?"
The answer was an immediate and enthusiastic "Yes".
Creating a safe and enjoyable space
EasyBeatz has become more than just an event for people with disability – it has became a symbol of inclusivity and community spirit for clubs and organisations.
APM helped set up a working group that included people with disability, to ensure their needs were met from the ground up.
This group helped design the event to be a safe, welcoming, and enjoyable space for everyone.
Empowering staff and enhancing facilities
One of the key aspects of the support from APM has been educating venue employees.
This training boosted their confidence in communicating and interacting with people with disabilities.
At Byford and Districts Country Club, APM also helped establish a chill-out zone with sensory items and headphones for those needing a quieter environment.
"Our main fear was doing the wrong thing. APM gave us the confidence to engage appropriately and effectively," said Ray on embracing the challenge to better support people with disability.
Continued commitment to inclusion
Ray said the success of EasyBeatz has inspired the club to make further inclusive improvements.
They have since installed automatic doors and are planning additional accessible parking bays.
The club is also gearing up to host more inclusive events, such as barefoot bowls.
"EasyBeatz was just the start for us," Ray said.
"Seeing the smiles and enjoyment on the faces of attendees was something to behold. Being inclusive helps the community, our business, and most importantly, people with disability."
Find out more about how APM Communities supports people with disability through our living with disability page.