Pictured (L-R) Penny from APM Communities, Erika from City of Joondalup, Jacquie from Mullaloo SLSC and Paige from APM Communities at the awards night.
The achievements of the Beach Access Working Group have been recognised with a nomination in the Centre for Accessibility Australia's annual awards.
Team members from APM Communities are part of a Beach Access Working Group, which is run in partnership between City of Joondalup and Mullaloo Surf Lifesaving Club (SLSC).
Based in Perth's northern suburbs, the working group and their achievements were named as one of the top three finalists for the Initiative of the Year Award.
The Accessibility Australia Awards were held at Anzac House in Perth CBD on 22 November 2023 and are run by the Australian Access Institute which recognises those creating accessible environments that deliver independence for everyone.
The other finalists in the Initiative category were Sage Automotion – See Me (the eventual winner) and Audio Description on ABC iView.
The Beach Access Working Group focused on working with community members, local government, local business and surf life-saving clubs to improve beach accessibility and creating an inclusive community.
Team Leader from APM Communities Paige Wilson said ”there are a range of initiatives that could make our beaches more accessible for all,"
It’s not just about accessing the beach using a wheelchair or a mobility aid, it’s about the transport, parking, accessible toilets and creating and being an inclusive community.”
“The working group members from APM Communities together with the City of Joondalup and Mullaloo SLSC have taken great steps to provide an accessible and inclusive beach area and I look forward to building on our initial successes so that everyone can enjoy time at the beach.”
This award and recognition led on from the working group’s annual Community Inclusion Beachside Event held on the 12 November 2023 at Mullaloo Surf Life Saving Club and Tom Simpson Reserve in Mullaloo.
More than 100 people were given the opportunity to take part in various activities including wheelchair basketball, seated volleyball and all-abilities hockey, as well as stalls from local community groups, sausage sizzles, cupcakes and tunes by DJ Incredible.
Paige further noted, “being acknowledged as a finalist for this award is testament to the commitment from all parties involved over the past three years to create an accessible and inclusive beachside,"
"There is still more work to be done and we will continue to work together to support further development.”
As part of the NDIS Partners in the Community program, APM Communities help people with disability in several regions in Western Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory to access support.
Our Local Area Coordinators (LACs) help people with disability, National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants, families and carers to identify and access the support they need.