THE addition of sensory spaces at major festivals, a Disability Sports Day held with St Kilda Football Club, the installation of beach matting at Mordialloc Beach, and new volunteering roles and work experience placements for young people with disabilities are among the measures taken to improve accessibility around Kingston in the last year.
A year has now passed since Kingston Council passed its four-year “All-Abilities Action Plan”. The plan outlined 30 actions council should take to improve accessibility and opportunities for people with disabilities. Kingston mayor Georgina Oxley said a recent report into the progress of the plan “shows strong progress and real benefits for the community.”
“From new sensory spaces at our major festivals to beach access mats at Mordialloc, inclusive sport days for young people and accessibility upgrades in shopping precincts – these are practical changes that make a huge difference in people’s daily lives,” she said. “This plan was built with our community, not just for them. The voices of people with lived experience of disability are guiding the way, and together we are creating a city where everyone feels welcome and supported.
“We know one in five people in Kingston live with disability, so accessibility and inclusion can’t be an afterthought – they must be at the heart of everything we do. The first year has given us real momentum, and I’m excited to see the next stage of the plan unfold as we keep building a community where diversity is seen as a strength.”
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 1 October 2025