A City for Everyone: Inclusive Brisbane Plan 2019-2029 - Planning for an inclusive city

Everyone is valued in an inclusive city. Characterised by a strong sense of community and high levels of community participation, an inclusive city is a place where everyone is respected and has the same opportunities¹.

We all benefit from making everyone feel part of our communities. These benefits include:

• improved safety²
• stronger social connections, reduced isolation and loneliness, stronger sense of belonging, and improved wellbeing, health and life expectancy³
• improved satisfaction with life⁴
• increased creativity and innovation⁵
• more equitable economic participation, upward mobility⁶ and wealth distribution⁷.

Building on past achievements, this plan highlights Council’s continued commitment to creating a more inclusive and accessible city by outlining a number of practical strategies and actions. It complements Council’s other social inclusion strategies that support young people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The plan also describes how government, business, industry and community members can work together for a more accessible and inclusive city.

In developing this plan, Council considered legislation, Queensland Government and Australian Government policies, international approaches and existing Council strategies that have previously helped to build stronger communities. Council also considered the feedback of more than 1200 residents, businesses and community organisations, and the advice of Council’s Inclusive Brisbane Board.

References

1. The Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government, Building social cohesionin our communities, Australian Human RightsCommission, Sydney, 2015, viewed 27 July 2019, https://www.humanrights.gov.au

2. Centre for Social Impact at University of New South Wales Australia, Social Cohesion,Australia’s Social Pulse, University of New SouthWales, Sydney, 2019, viewed 27 July 2019, https://amplify.csi.edu.au

3. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, How’s Life? 2017, OECD Publishing, Paris, 2017, viewed 27 July 2019, http://www.oecd.org

4. Centre for Social Impact at University of New South Wales Australia, Social Cohesion,Australia’s Social Pulse, University of New SouthWales, Sydney, 2019, viewed 27 July 2019, https://amplify.csi.edu.au

5. Hickin, R, Open, inclusive and diverse citiesare better for business and economic growth,World Economic Forum, Davos, 2018, viewed 27 July 2019, https://www.weforum.org

6. United Nations, Perspectives on socialcohesion – the glue that holds society together,United Nations, New York, 2012, viewed 27 July 2019, https://www.un.org

7. B Carter, ‘Benefits to society of an inclusive societies approach’, GSDRC Helpdesk ResearchReport 1232, University of Birmingham,Birmingham, 2015, p2.