Equal access

Equal access

The City of Hobart wants to respond to the aspirations and needs of people with disabilities living in our community to achieve equal access.

Providing equal access enhances everyone's participation in community life, regardless of their physical or intellectual capabilities. People with disabilities, and access limitations, have the same fundamental rights as all members of the community.

Principles of equal access

  • People with disabilities should not be defined by their disabilities.
  • People with disabilities have a right to equal access to facilities, services, programs, activities and employment to fully participate in the community and have equal opportunity to fulfil their individual potential.
  • Changes to the physical and social environment to improve access and equity help people with disabilities to integrate more completely into the community, and also benefit the wider community.

We work towards equal access through the Equal Access Commitment 2021-23(PDF, 1MB).

An Easy Read version can be accessed here: Equal Access Commitment 2021-23 - Easy Read version(PDF, 1MB)

Find out about accessibility at City of Hobart run events here: City of Hobart event accessibility(PDF, 447KB)

Disability in Tasmania

Core activity disability is defined as people needing help or assistance in one or more of the three core activity areas – self-care, mobility and communication – because of a disability or long-term health condition (lasting six months or more).

In 2012, Tasmania had the highest prevalence of any state in Australia of core activity disability. A quarter of the state's population lives with disability, which is high compared to other states. The proportion of the population living with a disability increases considerably with age. Tasmania also has the highest proportion of people aged 65 years and over with disability (55%).

Access For All - The Human Factor Poster(PDF, 113KB)

Accessible communications

Below you will find links to view accessible email versions of communications we have sent out on this subject. Sign up here to be included in these communications.

Hobart Together - Physically distanced but still connected

Guide Dogs can go anywhere

Guide Dogs can go anywhere campaign graphic

Just as hearing aids, wheelchairs and crutches enable people to live healthy, productive, independent, and dignified lives, Guide Dogs do the very same thing. 

Guide Dog are working animals that are trained to help people who are blind or have low vision navigate their world safely, and independently. From eight weeks of age, the dogs in our training program are socialised in public areas. They are quiet, well-behaved, non-aggressive and completely clean.

When you see a Guide Dog in harness, or wearing an orange training coat, please remember they are legally allowed access to go everywhere their handler does. A Guide Dog has full public access rights in accordance with the Guide Dogs and Hearing Dogs Act, 1967.

Living in a supportive and inclusive community is essential for our quality of life and wellbeing. Let’s make sure everybody has the same opportunities to participate in every aspect of life to the best of their abilities.

Please remember that Guide Dogs can go anywhere.

Learn more on the Guide Dogs Tasmania website.

Ability to Create

The annual Ability to Create exhibitions are a platform for enhancing a sense of place, nurturing creativity, celebrating artistic excellence and, most importantly, connecting creative people.

The Ability to Create exhibition was born in 2013 when the City of Hobart was approached by Freddy Lee-Mount, a community member living with a disability.

Freddy was committed to an idea of celebrating the creativity and talent of all ability artists in Hobart and creating awareness in the broader community of their talents and skills. Determined to develop a project with City of Hobart staff, Freddy identified groups who create regularly and worked with them to stage a fantastic exhibition at City of Hobart's Waterside Pavilion. Since then, the exhibition has occurred annually and grown from strength to strength in many amazing and creative ways. 

Learn more on the Ability to Create page.

Ability to Create