Accessible and Inclusive Cities: Exposing Design and Leadership Challenges for Bunbury and Geelong

This article compares research identifying the systemic barriers to disability access and inclusion in two regional Australian cities, discusses some of leadership design challenges that will need be addressed by government industry embed universal principles within planning, development, redevelopment urban infrastructure. In Geelong, Victoria, given often-opaque decision-making dynamics at play planning development community sought a more holistic consultative approach addressing inclusion. Systems-thinking for collective impact was used generate recommendations action around improving regulations, attitudes disability, information, accessible housing, partnerships, employment. At Bunbury, Western Australia, similar project analysed factors affecting local level, recommended suite safeguards including staff training, policies procedures, best practice benchmarks, technical support engagement co-design. We describe process followed both studies identify how, through collaborative action-oriented methods, identified key technical, cultural, political, structural changes required achieve equitable landscape.