All council services have been restored, thank you for your patience. Migration of the website will continue, should you experience any difficulties please email us at digitalteam@mvcc.vic.gov.au

Moonee Valley City Council

Accessible Moonee Valley

Home • Live • My Family and I • Accessible Moonee Valley

Accessible Moonee Valley

We are committed to a more inclusive and accessible city, where everyone can access everything and feel empowered to do so.

People with disabilities face discrimination if housing, education, transport, employment, health services and information technology are not accessible. This exclusion means fewer opportunities for education and employment. Well planned cities mean people with disabilities, their families and communities are happier socially and are better off financially.

Get social!

Our support includes care planning, community based social and leisure opportunities, outreach, advocacy and policy development, all of which is guided by our Disability Action Plan.

Our programs include:

Companion Card

The Companion Card is issued by the State Government to people with a significant permanent disability, who are unable to access community activities without a carer.

The carer is allowed in at no cost and the person with the disability, or the Companion Card Holder pays the standard charge. People with a temporary disability are not eligible.

We welcome carers in at no cost at our venues listed below:

Apply for a Companion Card.

Make your event accessible

Making events and activities fun and accessible for everyone is a fundamental step in the process of building an inclusive community - here are some handy tips and hints.

Our Include Everyone Guide (pdf, 174KB), accessible word version (docx, 28KB) has handy tips and ideas to ensure that people with disability can fully participate in activities and events in Moonee Valley.

It includes information and checklists:

  • planning your event
  • accessible spaces
  • inclusive communication
  • staff and support

For downloadable versions of the disability access symbols used in this guide, visit the Graphic Artists Guild website.

Tune in

We have introduced Counter loops into a number of our facilities, including the Civic Centre customer service area, Ascot Vale Neighbourhood Centre and all libraries. The Counter loops allow users with a hearing instrument to ‘tune in’ and hear more clearly with less distracting background noise.

Locations offering counter loops are identified with signage displaying the international symbol for deafness (above). Please ask a staff member to use a counter loop if you require hearing assistance to make your enquiry.

National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

The NDIS supports people with a permanent and significant disability that affects their ability to take part in everyday activities.

The scheme is available for people under the age of 65 who have a significant or permanent disability. For more information about the NDIS click here

Transport

We offer accessible and affordable transport to eligible older residents and residents with a disability who cannot use public transport.

We offer accessible and affordable transport to eligible older residents and residents with a disability who cannot use public transport to access services and social activities.

Community transport operates Monday to Friday from  9am to 5pm and is available to individuals and groups accessing community facilities such as:

  • Senior citizens centres
  • Social clubs
  • Shopping centres
  • Community health centres
  • Libraries

Home maintenance & inspections

Enjoy your independence with our home and yard maintenance service, for elderly residents and those with an intellectual and physical disability.

  • installation of smoke alarms and battery replacement
  • bathroom/toilet modifications e.g. grab rails, handheld shower hoses, shower stools, shower benches, transfer benches
  • access modifications e.g. ramps, hand-rails, construction of easy step pathways, rails at entrance and internally
  • changing of light bulbs
  • building of raised garden boxes which are accessible to people with physical limitation
  • minor repairs to fly screens and windows, door handles and doors
  • minor repairs to gates or latches
  • basic pruning for safe access (pruning plants that overhang footpaths or block driveways).

Our home maintenance does not include:

  • lawn mowing
  • repairs to hot water services
  • replacement of spouting
  • garden makeovers
  • electrical or plumbing work which require tradesman’s skills
  • pest control, except laying out bait
  • furniture or rubbish removal.

A minimal hourly fee will apply, plus cost of materials and tip charges for rubbish removal, if applicable. To find out more, call 9243 8806.

A home of my own

Looking for a place to live can be an exciting and challenging time.

There are lots of things to think about when you would like to move into your own home.

We've created 'a home of my own' to help with:

  • the types of houses that best meet your needs
  • the skills you need to live on your own
  • how to use your NDIS funding to reach your housing goals
  • housing advocacy and support services.

Choosing your home

The Summer Foundation's My Housing Preferences Tool is a workbook you can use to help you to think about the type of house that might best meet your needs.

Mainstream housing

Mainstream housing is housing that anyone can live in.

You do not have to have a disability to live in mainstream housing so some houses may not meet your access needs.

Mainstream housing options can include:

  • Private rental is housing that is available to rent in the private rental market. Private rental housing can include houses, units and apartments.
  • Public housing is a long-term form of social housing rental for people who are assessed to need it most. This can include people who have experienced homelessness, family violence of have additional support needs.
  • Community housing is a form of long-term, affordable rental housing which is managed by not-for-profit organisations. Community housing is for people who have very low incomes or have additional needs.
  • Home ownership is a home you already own or have borrowed money from the bank to buy.
  • Home sharing is when you share a home with other people. Each person in the home will have their own space but share rooms such as the lounge room, kitchen, laundry and bathroom.
  • Shared equity is when you share the cost of buying you own home with a non-for profit organisation or the government. 

You can search for mainstream housing to rent or buy on Domain and Realestate.com.

Accessible home and supported living

The Housing Hub is a new way for people with disability to find housing. The Housing Hub advertises vacancies for accessible apartments and houses that are owned by housing providers.

The Disability Housing website lists houses for sale and for rent.

Housing Choices Australia houses people with disability in the city and rural areas of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania.

Endeavour can help people with disability live on their own through a range of housing options.

Specialist disability accomodation (SDA)

Specialist disability accommodation (SDA) is for people who have very high physical support or safety needs.
SDA offers funding for an NDIS approved house or apartment.

The NDIS estimates that only 6% of participants will qualify for SDA. This means that most people with a disability will need to find mainstream housing and get funding for support from the NDIS.

Before the NDIS, funding for SDA and supported independent living (SIL) were paid together. Under the NDIS, funding for your home and the supports you need have been separated. This means you can choose who you would like to provide your supports.

Read more about the difference between SDA and SIL funding.

The Summer Foundation have developed some resources for people who are eligible for SDA:

  1. The pathway to SDA
  2. SDA payments guide

The NDIS Find a Housemate Facebook page helps people with disability and their carers to connect with other NDIS participants who would like to live more independently.

Living independently

The Summer Foundation's My Housing Preferences Tool is a workbook you can use to help you to think about the type of house that might best meet your needs.

Household tasks

Some of the tasks you may need to do when you live on your own can include:

  • cooking and making meals
  • shopping
  • cleaning
  • washing your clothes.

Autism Launchpad has information and videos for people who would like to become more independent.

Money and budgeting

Learning about money and budgeting is an important part of living on your own.

  • Rent assistance may be available to people who receive a regular payment from Centrelink.
  • The bond loan scheme is an interest-free loan scheme that can help you pay your bond.
  • MoneySmart has a simple money manager tool that can help you to manage your money and plan for your expenses.
  • Centrepay is a free service you can use to help you pay your bills and expenses.
 

Staying safe

Disability Advisory Committee

The Moonee Valley Disability Advisory Committee (DAC) provides us with a forum to consult with community members and seek specialist advice around disability.

The DAC is comprised of a selection of people with disabilities, their family or carers, who represent a cross section of the local community and reside in different geographic locations across Moonee Valley.

The purpose of the DAC is to:

  • Provide advice to Council on issues relating to disability access, inclusion, communication, participation and advocacy.
  • Identify issues affecting people with a disability, and advocate, and promote an awareness and understanding of these within Council and the community.
  • Support and advise Council on the development and implementation of the Moonee Valley City Council’s Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2014-2023.
  • Provide staff with support and advice around the operational aspects of disability service delivery, future initiatives and overarching actions plans that relate to people with disability and our MV2040 strategy.

Community members are encourage to contact the DAC directly should they have any issues relating to access or inclusion, or suggestions around how to make Moonee Valley a more inclusive space for all community members.

The DAC can be contacted via email at mooneevalleyDAC@gmail.com or phone the Metro Access Officer on 9243 1405.