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Rockdale wins Prime Minister's Award

Rockdale City Council has been awarded the prestigious Prime Minister's Award for the development of its Action Plan in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act. This New South Wales Council was one of six organisations recognised in the 1997 Prime Minister's Awards for Innovation in the Public Sector.

Other winners included WA Family and Children's Services; Health Insurance Commission; VicRoads, Royal Alexandra Hospital NSW; and Note Printing Australia. The awards provide an opportunity to recognise the achievements of public sector organisations in responding to new demands and changing the way they do business.

They acknowledge organisations that have enhanced public service through their adoption of innovative approaches to public administration. An independent panel of judges considered 175 nominations from Commonwealth agencies, government business enterprises, statutory authorities, State, Territory and Local Governments throughout Australia.

Judges described Rockdale as a leader in the implementation of the Disability Discrimination Act for other Councils across Australia and commended Council for its comprehensive consultation strategy. Rockdale's best practice award for Policy Formulation and Advice recognises Council's approach in consulting the community to develop the Action Plan that will remove barriers to Council services across the City.

Mayor Peter Bryant said Rockdale was the only Council among the award winners and the first Council to begin preparing a response to the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act.

"This Council has recognised the importance of providing equal access to its services for all the community, including people with disabilities who live, work and visit here," Mayor Bryant said. "We adopted a 'whole of Council' approach to identify and remove barriers and discriminatory practices throughout the City."

Development of the Action Plan was a lengthy process involving 290 people with disabilities, carers and service providers, as well as Councillors, staff from all Council departments and Council's Access Committee.

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