Deaf access in the Wimmera

Published on 21 February 2018

Horsham Rural City Council is now delivering the Deaf Access Project across the Wimmera.  The project will service the Horsham Rural City, Northern Grampians, Yarriamabiack, Hindmarsh and West Wimmera Shire Councils.

Community Services Director Kevin O’Brien said that Council was pleased to deliver this important service in the Wimmera.   “The aim of the Deaf Access Project is to enable people who are deaf and hard of hearing to participate in and benefit from the same community activities and mainstream services as everyone else.  Communities need to have accessible information to make decisions and choices,” he said. 

Mr O’Brien said that the project will enable Council to continue to improve universal accessibility across our communities.  “It will provide meaningful opportunities for the hard of hearing and deaf communities to be able to meaningfully contribute to civic and community life,” he said.

The Wimmera Deaf Access service was previously provided by the City of Ballarat and the worker based in Ballarat covering a broad geographic area.  Horsham Rural City Council has joined forces with the City of Ballarat to deliver this important and innovative service in the Wimmera.  The project is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services. 

Maggie Bridgewater has been appointed as Council’s new Deaf Access Officer and can be contacted via email maggie.bridgewater@hrcc.vic.gov.au, mobile text 0437 167 125 or TTY Dial 133 677, then ask for 03 5382 9533.

For more information about the Deaf Access Project, please contact Kevin O’Brien, Community Services Director via email kevin.obrien@hrcc.vic.gov.au.