Collie Disability Reference Group

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​Welcome to the Collie Disability Reference Group! We are a diverse and dedicated team committed to creating an inclusive and accessible environment for individuals with disabilities in the Collie community.

Who We Are:

The Disability Reference Group (DRG) is a collaborative team comprised of passionate individuals from various backgrounds, all united by a shared goal: to ensure that people with disabilities are fully included and empowered in the community. Our team consists of people from community service organisations, specialist disability support organisations, interested community members, and most importantly, people with lived experience with disability. We recognise the importance of embracing diversity and acknowledging the unique perspectives that each member brings to the table. For more information about the history of the group, please visit: ​Collie takes step towards better local access and inclusion | APM

What We Do:

Our primary focus is to serve as a forum to discuss disability-related matters, advocate for people with disabilities within the community and actively work in partnership with the community to improve access and inclusion. Our current projects include:

Accessible and Inclusive Playground
The DRG has recognised the need for playground facilities in the Collie area that are suitable for children with disabilities and their parents and carers. Collie has many great public parks and playgrounds; however, these are currently not suitable for everyone. Our goal is to work collaboratively with the community, local government and interested parties to create an inclusive playground, accessible by all members of the community, which is also suitable for those with disabilities. We are currently in the process of identifying suitable sites and developing an implementation plan including timeframes and funding.

Collie CBD Accessibility Project
The DRG is committed to working with business, local government and interested parties on improving the accessibility of the central business district in Collie. Our aim is to improve access for people with disabilities to businesses and the general CBD area. We are working on ways to finance and help business improve accessibility to their premises.

Community Consultation
The DRG has a goal of engaging with the Collie community to consult on disability-matters and build working collaborations.
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When and Where do We Meet:
The Collie DRG meets monthly at the Collie Family Centre. Meeting dates for the 2024 year are:

• Thursday 8th February
• Thursday 7th March
• Thursday 18th April
• Thursday 9th May
• Thursday 6th June
• Thursday 18th July
• Thursday 8th August
• Thursday 5th September
• Thursday 10th October
• Thursday 14th November
• Thursday 5th December

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​ Our Partnerships:

The DRG is supported by APM Communities and Advocacy WA.

Support from APM Communities has been integral to the development and continuing success of the DRG. APM Communities helps people with disability, NDIS participants, families, and carers to identify and access the support they need to enable participants to realise their individual goals and aspirations. For more information, go online to: https://apm.net.au/apm-group/apm-in-australia/ndis

Advocacy WA provides ongoing support to the DRG via its Community Disability Advocacy Project (CDAN). This has provided invaluable support in terms of organisation and direction for the group. Advocacy WA is hosting a number of free community disability advocacy workshops across the South West – these are perfect for people with disabilities, carers and family who are interested in identifying issues affecting people with disability in the community and learning how to advocate to make changes. More information here: https://advocacywa.org.au/news/community-advocacy-workshops-south-west-region/    

Can I Join the Collie Disability Reference Group?

Absolutely! The DRG is open to all interested community members and organisations. You are also more than welcome to just attend one or more of our meetings to learn more about what we do. If you are interested, please contact the Collie Family Centre on 08 9734 5343 or email to [email protected], or alternatively just fill in the form at the bottom of this page.
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CONTACT US
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If you would like to know more, are interested in contributing or joining the DRG, please fill out the following form and we will be in contact.