Accessibility in Launceston
Accessibility Framework
The City of Launceston Accessibility Framework is a strategic framework aimed at improving accessibility and inclusion in Launceston. According a 2016 survey, more than 4000 Launceston residents indicated they needed help with core daily activities due to disability. This equated to 6.4 per cent of the municipality's population, with a further 11 per cent of the population providing unpaid caring assistance.
The framework sets out five key commitment areas where the City of Launceston believes it can play a key role:
- Our inclusive community;
- Access to public spaces and buildings;
- Access to employment and education;
- Access to transport; and
- Access to the arts and events.
The Accessibility Framework for Action aligns with the State Government's Accessible Island Strategy, and lays out three ways in which the Council can play a role in improving accessibility and inclusivity in Launceston:
- Leading - Where the Council is the responsible authority for implementing an action, or leading a strategic direction or regulating certain conditions.
- Facilitating - Where the Council can work with strategic partners and stakeholders to progress an action.
- Advocating - Where the Council doesn't have control or authority for implementing an action but can advocate to other levels of government to assist in the delivery of that action.
Download the City of Launceston Accessibility Framework PDF online here(PDF, 5MB)
Read the City of Launceston Accessibility Framework PDF online with DocReader.
Read the City of Launceston Accessibility Framework Raw Text File (RTF) online with DocReader.
The City of Launceston is dedicated to providing access for everyone in our community. Please see below for some access initiatives we support.
Access Advisory Committee
The Access Advisory Committee is chaired by a Councillor and consists of representatives from agencies that provide support to people with disabilities. The Committee meets four times a year.
The Committee aims to:
- Develop and review an Access Plan for the city every five years
- Present any new Access Plan to Council for adoption
- Review up-and-coming capital projects for accessibility
- Promote the benefits of being accessible to local businesses
- Provide advice to Council on specific matters relevant to Access
- Promote community participation in and awareness of Access activities
Please contact TeamCommunityDevelopment@launceston.tas.gov.au for more information.
National Relay Service
- The Launceston City Council is National Relay Service (NRS) friendly. If you are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment, you can call the Council through the NRS and ask to be connected to 03 6323 3000.
- TTY users can call 13 36 77
- Speak and listen (speech-to-speech) users can call 1300 555 727
- To make other relay calls, visit www.relayservice.gov.au
Companion Card
Council is an affiliate of the Tasmanian Companion Card Program.
The card helps provide fairer ticketing for Tasmanians with a disability that necessitates assistance from a companion to participate at community venues and activities.
This means that when a cardholder presents their card at the following, they will continue to pay entry at the relevant concession rate but their companion will be given free entry to:
Access Maps
Accessibility maps are available for the City(PDF, 944KB), City Park and Seaport(PDF, 435KB) and Inveresk Precinct and Cataract Gorge Reserve(PDF, 920KB).
The accessibility maps are designed to assist in the navigation and identification of accessible features within a precinct area. It provides people with limited mobility greater confidence to visit the city.
Using symbol and colour keys to describe the area, the maps highlight where potential barriers are and provide information about key access features such as mobility parking spaces, the nearest accessible public toilets, taxi rank, stairs and where steep or moderate inclines are.
Designed by Aspect Studios in line with the City Heart Wayfinding Strategy, the access maps are an initiative of the Launceston Access Advisory Committee, a Special Committee of the City of Launceston with the purpose to provide advice to Council on matters relevant to access issues and to promote accessibility within the municipality.
Parking
There are a number of accessible parking bays available, with varying lengths of stay, within central Launceston.
The bays and times are detailed in this map(PDF, 297KB).