Brimbank council must take the lead and employ more staff with intellectual and physical disabilities, its reigning citizen of the year believes.
The call comes as it is revealed more than 5000 Brimbank residents under the age of 65 will need assistance with “daily living” inside four years.
The council’s recently approved Disability Action Plan shows that nearly 1300 Brimbank residents will need assistance with “core activities” by 2020, with 7601 of those aged 65 years and over.
Autism Angels founder and reigning citizen of the year Despina Havelas said the council needed to provide employment opportunities across its services for people with disabilities.
“Someone with a disability can be included in employment opportunities,” she said.
“Brimbank council should expand and improve the employability of people with a disability in our area.”
She said residents also needed a hub specifically tailored for those with disabilities similar to the council’s youth services.
“It’s badly needed – a space where people with a disability can go and feel supported,” she said.
The number of Brimbank residents receiving a disability support pension increased from 7358 to 8003 in two years, council data reveals.
The council’s action plan found that about 50 per cent of primary carers were on low incomes and might find it hard to cover living expenses.
Council acting community wellbeing director John MacDanagh said a diverse workforce led to “innovative ideas that benefit the whole community”, but would not commit to any targets to employ people with disabilities within the council.
