Fast five: Council services that you didn’t know were accessible

Image: Some pools, like Port Kembla, have accessible features to support people with mobility difficulties.

We want to make Wollongong a better place to live and visit for people of all abilities. That’s why we’re working with people with disability to improve our city so that everyone can enjoy and participate in community life.

While we still have a way to go to make the City of Wollongong fully accessible, we wanted to share five different Council services that you may not have known have accessible features for people with disability.

For more services, see Council’s Disability Access Guide.

1. Request a free beach wheelchair when you visit the beach

We’re making it easier for everyone to enjoy a visit to the beach. Currently, Austinmer, North Wollongong, Port Kembla and Thirroul beaches all have features to support people with disability. But did you know that you can also book a free beach wheelchair for use during patrol hours?

The free beach wheelchairs are usually available at our accessible beaches, but we may be able to provide them at other patrolled beaches on request.

Visit our website to find out more, or give us a call on 4227 7111.

2. Get library books, DVDs and CDs delivered to you with the Home Library Service

There’s no greater pleasure than reading a good book. Our Home Library Service delivers items from our collection to people who have difficulty visiting their local library. That also includes DVDs and CDs so you can watch movies at home and listen to your favourite artists.

You can choose which items you'd like to borrow or tell us your interests and we'll pick something for you. This is a great service for people who live in the Wollongong City Council area and are temporarily or permanently unable to visit a library.

Learn more about this service by visiting the Wollongong City Libraries website.

3. Get help travelling to and from home with Community Transport

Get out of the house, socialise, and explore the City of Wollongong with the help of our Community Transport volunteers.

If you have difficulty accessing public or private transport, Community Transport: Wollongong - Shellharbour can help you get out and about with volunteer drivers, buses and taxi subsidies. This is a great way for people to stay independent and get where they need to go. Eligibility criteria applies and this service for people who are 65+ years old.

Right now, we’re also encouraging community groups and organisations to hire out our vehicles. Visit the Community Transport website to find out more or give the team a call on 1300 987 422 between 8am and 4.30pm weekdays.

4. Celebrate the new year and watch the fireworks at the reserved Accessible Viewing Area

We’re getting ready to celebrate the end of another great year with a bang. We’ve reserved an Accessible Viewing Area for people with disability or accessibility requirements, and their family and carers, to watch the fireworks at the Wollongong Harbour this New Year’s Eve.

It’s part of our commitment to making our community events accessible.

Bookings for the viewing area, car park and drop off/pick up are now open using our online form. Requests to use the accessible parking spaces and drop off/pick up point will close midday Thursday 28 December.

For more information please email our Events Team or call (02) 4227 7111.

This event is proudly brought to you by Wollongong City Council and new naming rights sponsor, ForHealth.

5. Visit a playground designed for people with disability

On Monday 18 December, we unveiled the first stage of the Stuart Park All Ages All Abilities playground. This playground is specially designed for adults with disability, the first of its kind for Wollongong.

It’s now open for summer and we encourage everyone to visit Stuart Park and check it out!

While many of our other playgrounds have accessible features, the Stuart Park All Ages All Abilities playground joins the specially designed and built two playgrounds – Luke’s Place in Corrimal and the All Abilities Playground at the Wollongong Botanic Garden – as spaces that specially cater for children with disability.