Shire Wins 5th Consecutive Most Accessible Community WA Award!

Creating a community where everyone feels welcome.

Augusta Margaret River continues to lead the State as an inclusive and welcoming community for everyone, with the Shire securing its fifth consecutive win at the Most Accessible Community WA Awards in Perth. 

Awarded by the Minister for Disability Services, the Hon Don Punch, this recognition highlights the organisation’s commitment to communication as an essential aspect of inclusivity.

Judges praised the Shire of Augusta Margaret River for its diverse programs and innovative methods, emphasising the continuous efforts to engage everyone in the community. 

Shire Director of Sustainable Economy and Community, Nick Byrne said while the achievement was an acknowledgement of the Shire’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of inclusivity and inspiring positive change on a broader scale, it was more than just an award.

It’s a testament to the collective dedication of individuals working towards a more inclusive space for all.

Augusta Margaret River's win celebrates the ongoing journey towards creating a community where everyone feels welcome and is a reminder of what can be achieved when we all work together for a common cause.

Noteworthy Shire initiatives included the creation of a ‘powerful’ short film HEARTs Ability - a ‘fantastic’ business award initiative aimed at fostering inclusion and raising awareness, and the development of picture based and easy read surveys to consult more easily with people living with intellectual disabilities. 

Also highlighted was the Shire’s ongoing extensive consultation and collaboration with their access and inclusion community reference group now known as the Inclusive Communities Advisory Network – ICAN. 

Shire Community Development Officer, Rebecca Young, emphasised the significance of this year’s win with a new format positioning the Shire against much bigger local governments operating on significantly larger budgets.

As the sole Shire to emerge as a finalist, we’re absolutely thrilled to receive this award, reflecting our ability to work both creatively and collaboratively with our community.

This year, we share the honour with the City of Mandurah, who are achieving incredible outcomes for their community, so we feel proud to be leading alongside them.

Last month, the Shire’s newly developed website was also a finalist in the national Centre for Accessibility Digital Awards, placing the region alongside esteemed companies and major entities such as ABC iview and the City of Melbourne.

The Shire remains dedicated to pushing the boundaries of inclusivity, ensuring that accessibility remains at the forefront of initiatives and inspiring positive change on a broader scale.